UNIVERSITY  01-  CA  ^IVERSIDt  JBRARY 


3  1210  01927  6656 


SRLF 

S599 

C3T4 
1912 

Soil 
Blu 

survey 
ff  area 

)f  the  Red 
California 


SITY  OF  CA  RIVERS  DE    L  5RAF\Y 

i[  ii!i|iii|if  I  MUM  il 

210  0 


^  Z?  \)y/(Je6  tet^ 


927  6656 

Issued  May  6,  1912. 

U.  S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE, 

BUREAU  OP  SOILS— MILTON  WHITNiT,  Chief. 


SOIL  SURVEY  OF  THE  RED  BLUFF  AREA, 
CALIFORNIA. 

By  L.  C.  holmes  axd  E.  C.  ECKMAXN. 


MACY  H.  LAPHAM,  Inspector  ix  Charge. 


[Advance  Sheets— Field  Operations  of  tlie  Bureau  of  Soils,  1910.] 


TVASHINGTON: 
GOVERXilEXT  PRIXTIXG  OFFICE. 
1912.       ■ 


BUREAU  OF  SOILS. 

Milton  Whitnky.  Chief  of  Bureau. 
Albe:rt  G.  Rice,  Chief  Clerk. 

SOIL   SUEVEY. 

CuBTis  F.  Mabbut,  In  charge. 

Hugh  II.  Bennett,  lusiiector  in  chai'ge  Southern  Division. 
J.  E.  Lapiiam,  Inspec-tor  in  ch:irge  Northern  Division. 
Macy  II.  Lapham,  Inspector  in  charge  Western  Division, 


Issued  May  6,  1912. 


U.  S.  DEPARTMENT  OF  AGRICULTURE, 

BUREAU  OF  SOILS— MILTON  WHITNEY.  Chief. 


SOIL  SURVEY  OF  THE  RED  BLUFF  AREA, 
CALIFORNIA. 

« 

By  L.  C.  HOLMES  and  E.  C.  ECKMANN. 


MACY  H.  LAPHAM,  Inspector  in  Charge. 


[Advance  Sheets— Field  Operations  of  the  Bureau  of  Soils,  1910.] 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE. 

1912, 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL 


U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture, 

Bureau  of  Soils, 
Washington,  D.  C,  Septeniher  19,  1911. 
Sir:  In  continuation  of  soil-survey  work  in  the  great  interior  val- 
ley of  California  a  survey  was  made  of  the  Red  Bluff  area  during 
1910.  This  area  covers  a  part  of  Tehama  and  Butte  Counties.  This 
is  a  region  of  varied  soils.  "Wide  areas,  underlain  by  hardpan,  will 
never  be  of  much  value  for  agriculture.  These  areas  will  be  used, 
as  they  are  at  present,  for  grazing.  On  the  other  hand,  there  are  a 
number  of  fertile  types  at  present  used  for  dr\^  farming  and,  to  a 
relatively  limited  extent,  for  crops  under  irrigation.  The  develop- 
ment of  the  region  agriculturally  depends  upon  the  installation  of 
comprehensive  irrigation  works.  Sufficient  water  to  irrigate  all  of 
the  better  soils  now  passes  down  the  streams  during  the  flood  period. 
It  would  be  an  engineering  problem  of  great  magnitude  to  store 
these  flood  waters  in  reservoirs  along  the  upper  courses  of  the  rivers 
and  to  lead  them  thence  by  canals  to  the  different  parts  of  the  area. 
The  question  of  undertaking  such  a  project,  or  projects,  is  under 
consideration,  and  preliminary  surveys  show  it  to  be  feasible.  The 
outlining  of  the  soils  in  the  area  and  the  valuation  of  the  different 
types  for  the  many  special  crops  that  may  be  grown  in  this  region 
where  sufficient  water  is  obtainable  should  be  of  value  as  a  basis  for 
estimating  the  capital  that  may  be  safely  invested  in  irrigation  work. 
I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  the  manuscript  report  and 
map  covering  this  area  and  to  recommend  their  publication  as  ad- 
vance sheets  of  Field  Operations  of  the  Bureau  of  Soils  for  1910,  as 
authorized  by  law. 

Respectfully.  Milton  Whitney, 

Chief  of  Bureau. 
J  Ion.  rlA.MKs  Wjlson. 

Secretary  of  A;/ricuUure. 
2 


CONTENTS, 


Soil  Survey  of  the  Red  Bluff  Area,  California,  By  L.  C.  Holmes  and 

E.  C.  ECKMANN 5 

Description  of  the  area 5 

Climate 9 

Agriculture 12 

Irrigation  and  drainage 15 

Soils 17 

Redding  loam 21 

Redding  gra  velly  sandy  loam 24 

Coming  loa.m : 25 

Coming  gravelly  loam 27 

Tehama  gravelly  loam 29 

Tehama  silt  loam 30 

Tehama  clay 32 

Maywood  loam 33 

Maywood  fine  sandy  loam 35 

Maywood  gravelly  sandy  loam 36 

Maywood  silt  loam 37 

Maywood  silty  clay  loam 38 

Kirkwood  silty  clay  adobe .^ 39 

Tuscan  stony  sandy  loam 40 

Tuscan  stony  loam 41 

Elder  gravelly  fine  sandy  loam 42 

Elder  silt  loam 43 

Elder  silty  clay  loam 45 

Vina  fine  sandy  loam 46 

Vina  loam 48 

Vina  clay  loam 50 

Vina  clay  adobe 51 

Sacramento  fine  sand 52 

Sacramento  fine  sandy  loam 53 

Sacramento  silt  loam 55 

Sacramento  silty  clay  loam 57 

Riverwash 58 

Rough  stony  land 58 

Summary 59 

3 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PLATES. 

Page. 
Plate  I.  Fig.  1. — Peach  orchard  on  Cone  Ranch  near  Red  Bluff.      Fig.  2. — ■ 
Almond  orchard  near  Corning,   on    a   favorably  situated    area  of 

Tehama  silt  loam 16 

II.  Fig.  1. — A  successful  small  orange  orchard  near  Corning,  Tehama 
County.  Fig.  2. — Rough  stony  land  of  volcanic  bowlders  occun-ing 
east  of  Vina 16 

FIGURE. 

Fio.  1.  Sketch  map  showing  location  of  the  Red  Bluff  area,  California 5 

M.\P. 

Soil  map,  Red  Bluff  sheet,  California. 
4 


SOIL  SURVEYOR  THE  RED  BLUFF  AREA,  CALIFORNIA. 

By  L.  C.  HOLMES  and  E.  C.  ECKMANN. 


DESCRIPTION    OF   THE    AREA. 


The  Red  Bluff  area  covers  the  extreme  northern  portion  of  the 
main  Sacramento  Valley  and  its  adjacent  elevated  plains.  The  north- 
em  boundarv  of  the  valley  is  formed  by  a  series  of  low  hills  and 
wooded  slopes  which 
separate  it  from  an- 
other valley  on  the 
north,  known  as  the 
Anderson  Valley.^ 

A  small  area  of  these 
low  wooded  hills  is  in- 
cluded within  the  sur- 
vey. Here  the  river 
flows  swiftly  through  a 
narrow  winding  gorge 
known  as  the  Iron 
Canyon,  and  is  bor- 
dered by  a  few  small 
areas  of  alluvial  soil  in 
the  bends.  This  con- 
dition continues  to 
about  3  miles  above 
the  city  of  Red  Bluff, 
where  the  hills  on  both 
sides  of  the  river  re- 
cede. At  this  jooint  the 
great  valle}^  floor  of 
the  Sacramento  begins. 
It  extends  southward  ^'^-  ^■' 
as  a  valley  20  to  60 
miles  wide,  unbroken  save  by  the  Marysville  Buttes,  to  Sacramento 
and  is  continued  thence  to  Bakersfield  as  the  San  Joaquin  Valley. 


-Sketch  map  showing  location  of  the  Red  Bluff 
area,  California. 


1  This  valley  is  included  in  the  soil  survey  of  the  Redding  area. 


6  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU   OF   SOILS,   1910. 

The  Red  Bluff  area  covers  a  section  of  the  valley  from  its  northern 
end,  near  Rod  Bluff,  southward  to  the  Colusa  area,  a  distance  of 
about  27^  miles,  a  prolonoation  of  tlie  eastern  and  western  boundaries 
of  that  area  forming  similar  boundaries  for  the  Red  Bluff  area.  The 
area  is  covered  bj^  the  Vina  and  Tehama  quadranfjles  of  the  United 
States  Geological  Survey,,  these  sheets  being  used  as  base  maps.  An 
exception  is  made  of  that  part  of  the  Vina  Quadrangle  previously 
covered  in  the  Colusa  area  and  such  parts  of  the  Tehama  Quadrangle 
as  have  but  comparatively  little  agricultural  value.    • 

The  area  consists  of  approximately  326  square  miles,  or  208,640 
acres,  all  in  Tehama  County  with  the.  exception  of  some  10  square 
miles  in  the  southeastern  corner  Wn\g  in  Butte  County.  It  would  l)e 
rectangular  in  shape  were  it  not  that  the  lower  Piedmont  Plain  of 
the  Lassen  Peak  district,  of  no  agricultural  importance,  borders  the 
Sacramento  Ri\er  rather  closely  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  area. 
The  boundary  of  the  survey  is  here  so  drawn  as  to  include  but  little 
of  this  plain,  the  dissected  front  of  which  forms  the  boundary  of  the 
valley. 

The  Sacramento  River  enters  the  area  near  the  northwest  comer 
and  pursues  a  general  course  to  the  southeast  corner,  dividing  the 
area  so  that  somewhat  the  greater  part  lies  upon  the  west  side  of 
the  river. 

At  the  point  where  the  river  leaves  Iron  Canyon  and  enters  the 
area  an  irregular  flood  plain,  known  as  the  ''  Sacramento  Bottoms," 
begins.  This  varies  in  width  from  1  mile  to  several  miles.  Through 
these  bottoms  the  river  meanders  in  an  ever  changing  course.  Dur- 
ing excessive  Hood  periotls  great  areas  of  these  bottom  lands  are 
submerged  and  active  erosion  follows  through  the  overflow  waters 
seeking  lower  levels  by  shorter  channels  than  the  tortuous  river  course. 
The  main  channel  throughout  the  area  occupies  the  lowest  part  of 
this  alluvial  bottom  and  in  the  main  has  sufficient  carrying  capacity 
promptly  to  relieve  flooded  sections.  The  condition  does  not  exist 
in  the  Red  Bkiff  area  as  farther  south  whereb}'  a  belt  of  elevated 
alluvial  material  has  been  built  up  along  its  banks,  forming  basins 
to  restrain  escaped  flood  waters  after  the  river  has  fallen. 

Few  attempts  are  made  to  levee  the  river  and  keep  it  within  its 
banks,  and  during  flood  seasons  the  water  does  considerable  damage 
by  restricting  the  area  suitable  for  agriculture. 

This  flood  plain  throughout  is  marked  by  meandering  overflow 
channels  sometimes  giving  sections  a  much  eroded  surface.  Such 
areas  are  abandoned  to  a  tangled  growth  of  wild  grape,  cottonwood, 
sycamore,  willow,  etc.  The  bottom  lands  were  originally  heavily 
wooded  with  the  trees  mentioned  and  when  the  agricultural  develop- 
ment of  the  area  started  much  labor  and  expense  were  necessary  to 
clear  it.     It  is  now  as  extensively  cleared  as  flood  conditions  warrant, 


SOIL   SURVEY   OF   THE   EED   BLUFF   AREA,   CALIFORNL\.  7 

and  produces  a  considerable  proportion  of  the  agricultural  products 
of  the  area. 

The  low-lying  alluvial  belt  of  the  Sacramento  River  is  bordered 
along  its  outer  edge  by  almost  continuous  terrace  lines  from  10  to 
40  feet  in  height.  These  ascents  mark  the  beginning  f)f  the  plains 
region,  which  extends  back  on  both  sides  from  the  river  to  the  bound- 
aries of  the  area.  These  gently  sloping  to  rolling  plains  constitute 
the  greater  part  of  the  area  surveyed. 

This  plains  region  is  usually  treeless  and  of  a  naturally  barren  ap- 
pearance, especially  during  the  dry  season.  It  has  a  good  slope  and  is 
traversed  by  many  small  streams  flowing  at  right  angles  to  the  river. 
Alluvial  bottoms  occur  along  many  of  these  lateral  tributaries.  The 
principal  streams  of  the  west  side  are  Reed,  Reclbank,  Coyote,  Oat, 
Elder,  Thomas,  and  Rice  Creeks,  all  finding  an  outlet  to  the  Sacra- 
mento within  the  area.  They  are  all  intermittent  streams,  carry- 
ing periodically  considerable  volumes  of  flood  water.  Redbank, 
Thomas,  and  Elder  Creeks  are  the  principal  ones  of  the  group.  The 
last  two  deliver  large  volumes  of  water  during  the  rainy  season,  but 
soon  dwindle  once  the  season  ends.  From  the  eastern  section  several 
perennial  streams  reach  the  river,  together  with  some  intermittent 
streams  of  a  character  similar  to  those  on  the  west  side.  Principal 
among  the  former  streams  are  Antelope,  Mill,  and  Deer  Creeks,  which 
deliver  a  continuous  flow  very  valuable  for  irrigation  purposes. 

The  population  of  the  Red  Bluft'  area  is  principally  agricultural 
in  character.  There  is  a  small  percentage  of  the  inhabitants  de- 
pendent upon  industries  not  intimately  connected  with  agricultural 
pursuits,  but  in  the  main  agriculture  is  their  support.  "Wliile  a  few 
foreigners  and  recent  arrivals  from  near-by  or  Eastern  States  are 
found,  the  majority  of  the  inhabitants  are  early  pioneers  and  their 
descendants.  They  originally  came  from  the  Middle  Western  States 
and  acquired  large  holdings  of  land.  In  many  instances  the  large 
ranches  are  held  much  as  they  were  when  grain  farming  first  began. 
Upon  the  plains  region  the  population  is  usually  very  scattered. 
Along  the  alluvial  plain  of  the  Sacramento  and  its  small  tributaries 
the  population  is  somewhat  denser,  but  in  general  development  of 
intensive  agriculture  is  retarded  by  the  large  land  holdings. 

Tehama  County,  within  which  the  survey  lies  almost  entirely, 
has  an  area  of  about  3,200  square  miles.  It  was  established  in  1856 
from  what  was  previously  parts  of  Butte,  Colusa,  and  Shasta 
Counties.  In  1910  the  population  of  Tehama  County  was  11,401 ;  in 
1900  it  was  10,996.  The  increase  in  population  has  been  due  almost 
entirely  to  increase  in  settlement  in  the  valley  section  covered  by  the 
survey. 

Red  Bluff  is  the  county  seat  of  Tehama  County,  with  a  population 
of  3,530.  In  1900  it  had  2,750.  It  is  pleasantly  situated  upon  the 
10970°— 12 2 


8  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU    OF    SOILS,    1910. 

we.->t  bank  of  the  Sacramento  Elver  at  an  elevation  of  about  310  feet 
above  sea  level  and  is  the  most  northern  city  in  the  main  plain  of  the 
Sacramento  River.  The  cit}'  was  laid  out  in  1850  and  first  named 
Leodocia,  quickly  outstripping  Tehama,  an  earlier  settlement.  Dur- 
ing the  mining  excitement  it  was  a  great  staging  and  transshipping 
point,  being  the  head  of  navigation  on  the  Sacramento  River.  It  lan- 
guished later  during  the  decadence  of  mining,  but  revived  with  the 
advent  of  the  California  &  Oregon  Railroad  in  the  early  seventies. 
It  is  a  very  substantial  city  at  this  time  and  the  distributing  point  for 
considerable  outlying  territory  devoted  to  sheep  and  stock  raising, 
lumbering,  and  mining.  , 

Tehama,  with  a  population  of  2-21,  is  located  on  the  west  bank  of 
the  Sacramento  River  at  the  junction  of  the  east  and  west  side  rail- 
roads. 

Corning,  the  ISIaywood  Colony  town  and  the  second  in  size  in  the 
area,  has  a  population  of  972.  It  is  an  agricultural  town  and  the 
shipping  point  for  considerable  territory  in  Tehama  County  lying 
west  of  this  area.  Proberta  and  Kirkwood  are  other  important  local 
shipping  points  on  the  west  ?^ide  of  the  river. 

Vina  is  a  small  town  upon  the  east  side  of  the  river  on  the  Shasta 
route  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad.  It  is  noted  principally  as 
the  headquarters  of  the  famous  Stanford  ranch  and  is  an  important 
shipping  point.  Los  Molinos,  also  upon  the  east  side  of  the  river,  is 
a  newly  located  town,  the  headquarters  of  operations  tending  to  open 
for  irrigation  and  settlement  several  thousand  acres  of  land  in  that 
vicinity. 

The  area  is  well  supplied  with  schools  and  excellent  public  build- 
ings. Electric  lighting  and  telephone  communication  in  both  towns 
and  rural  districts  are  in  general  use. 

Good  roads  prevail  and  the  main  highways  are  excellently  graded 
and  well  conditioned  for  traffic.  Railroad  transportation  facilities 
are  excellent.  Two  main  lines  of  the  Southern  Pacific  traverse  the 
area,  one  on  each  side  of  the  river.  At  Tehama  the  east-side  branch 
crosses  the  river  and  joining  the  west-side  brancli  continues  as  the 
main  line  of  the  Southern  Pacific  to  Oregon.  There  are  few  points 
in  the  area  removed  as  much  as  6  miles  fi-om  a  shipping  point  on  the 
railroad.  In  addition  to  railroad  transportation  the  area  possesses 
the  advantages  of  river  traffic.  Owing  to  the  obstructed  conditions 
and  to  the  ofcurrence  of  long  periods  of  low  water  only  a  few  boats 
reach  Red  lilufi"  each  year.  They  influence  railroad  freight  rates, 
and  (he  possibility  of  improving  the  river's  channel  makes  the  stream 
a  valuable  natural  asset. 

An  ele<^'tric  line  lias  been  proposed  to  traverse  that  section  north 
of  Lf)s  Molinos  oast  of  the  river.  This  would  materially  improve  its 
market  facilities. 


SOIL    SUKVEY    OF    THE    EED    BLUFF    AREA,    CALIFORNIA.  9 

The  markets  for  the  products  of  the  Red  Bluff  area  are  good.  The 
northern  California  and  southern  Oregon  country  consumes  much 
green  fruit  produced  in  this  area.  The  dried  fruits  and  staples,  such 
as  grains,  hops,  wine,  wool,  etc.,  are  shipped  to  more  distant  markets. 
Vegetables,  j^oultry,  hay,  and  such  products  find  markets  in  both 
northern  and  southern  towns  and  supply  much  mountainous  terri- 
tory devoted  to  other  industries. 

CLIMATE. 

The  climate  of  the  Red  Bluff  area  differs  little  in  general  features 
from  that  characterizing  the  country  known  as  the  Great  Interior 
Valley  of  California,  of  w^hich  it  is  a  part.  The  most  striking  fea- 
ture of  the  climate  of  this  region,  as  compared  with  humid  sections, 
is  the  occurrence  of  a  wet  and  dry  season.  The  summers  are  prac- 
tically rainless,  the  entire  precipitation  occurring  during  the  winter 
months. 

The  following  table  gives  the  mean  monthly  and  annual  precipita- 
tion for  the  stations  indicated: 

Mean  monthly  and  annual  precipitation. 


January . 
February 
March . . . 

April 

May 

June 

July 


Red 
Bluff. 


Inches. 
4.82 
5.00 
4.80 
1.36 
1.09 
0.45 
0.01 


Com- 
ing. 


Inches. 
4.51 
3.03 
2.56 
1.62 
0.93 
0.21 
T. 


Chico. 


Inches. 
4.46 
3.32 
2.70 
1.79 
0.96 
0.42 
0.04 


Orland. 


Inches. 
3.26 
2.08 
2.17 
1.41 
0.98 
0.42 
0.02 


August 

September. 

October 

November. 
December. 

Annual 


Red 
Bluff. 

Corn- 
ing. 

Chico. 

Inches. 

Inches. 

Inches. 

T. 

0.03 

0.03 

0.65 

0.21 

0.47 

1.60 

1.47 

1.41 

3.00 

2.22 

2.56 

3.55 
26.33 

3.99 

4.22 

20.79 

22. 38 

Orland. 


Inchei. 
0.02 
0.35 
1.12 
2.08 
3.10 


At  Red  Bluff,  situated  in  the  northern  part  of  the  area,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  river,  the  means  are  computed  from  records  cover- 
ing the  period  from  1877  to  1909.  The  elevation  is  about  310  feet 
above  tide.  Corning  is  located  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  area 
on  the  west  side,  and  the  figures  cover  the  period  from  1886  to  1900. 
Chico  is  situated  about  5  miles  east  of  the  river  and  about  20  miles 
south  of  the  Red  Bluff  area  at  an  elevation  of  193  feet.  The  period 
from  1871  to  1900  is  covered  by  the  figures.  Orland  is  several  miles 
south  of  the  Red  Bluff  area  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  at  an  ele- 
vation of  254  feet.  It  will  be  noted  that  Red  Blufi',  at  the  head  of 
the  valley,  has  the  greatest  precipitation.  For  points  oppositely 
located,  however,  it  will  be  noted  that  the  rainfall  is  somewhat  greater 
upon  the  east  side  of  the  river.  At  all  stations  the  greatest  rainfall 
occurs  in  similar  periods.     The  precipitation  usually  occurs  as  gentle 


10 


FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU   OF   SOILS,   1910. 


showers  or  rains  extending  over  several  days,  A  great  variation  is 
noted  in  the  rainfall  shown  by  calendar  years.  The  records  as  kept 
for  seasonal  precipitations  commencing  with  September  do  not  show 
such  a  wide  range,  for  the  greatest  rainfall  of  the  season  may  occur 
either  before  or  after  the  end  of  the  calendar  year.  The  following 
table  shows  the  seasonal  precipitation  at  Red  Bluif  from  1877-78 
to  1909-10 : 

Scasonohlc  ijrccipitulion  nt  Red  /Huff,  coiii»iriiciii(/  irith  t<rpte>nber. 


Year. 

Total  for 
season. 

Year. 

Total  for 
season. 

Year. 

Total  for 
season. 

Year. 

Total  for 
season. 

1877-78 

53.14 

1886-87 

15.72 

1895-96 

23.94 

1904-5 

33.71 

1878-79 

21.49 

1887-88 

17.34 

1896-97 

24.90 

1905-6 

34.59 

1879-80 

29.94 

1888-89 

23.34 

'  1897-98 

15.18 

190f)-7 

27.97 

1880-81 

28.90 

1889-90 

41.87 

1898-99 

21.70 

1907-8 

20.08 

1881-82 

21.12 

1890-91 

22.61 

1  1899-1900 

23.91 

1908-9 

31.23 

1882-«3 

18.58 

1891-92 

21.39 

1900-1901 

24.59 

1909-10 

17.64 

1883-84 

24.01 

1892-93 

32.35 

1901-2 

31.74 

1884-85 

14.74 

1893-94 

22.20 

1903-3 

24.22 

188&-86 

35.11 

1894-95 

29.85 

1903-4 

31.64 

INfaxiniuni  precipitations  have  occurred  as  follows:  At  Red  Bluif, 
49.01  and  40.37  inches  for  the  calendar  years  of  1878  and  190(5,  re- 
spectively; at  Corning,  34  inches  in  1890;  at  Chico,  36.24  inches  in 
1892.  Minimum  precipitations  occurred  as  follows:  At  Red  Bluff, 
12.91  inches  in  1898;  at  Corning,  7.58  inches  in  1898;  at  Chico,  12.31 
inches  also  in  1898.  The  average  annual  rainfall  for  Sacramento 
covering  a  period  of  51  years  is  19.41  inches. 

In  the  Red  BluH'  area  the  general  movement  of  air  is  from  the  north 
and  northeast  into  the  valley.  During  the  summer  months  there  is 
normally  a  marked  movement  of  air  from  the  south.  "  Northers,"  as 
they  arc  called,  .sometimes  occur.  They  are  hot,  dust-laden  north 
Avinds,  occurring  most  frequently  during  May,  June,  and  Jul}".  Some 
damage  is  frequently  done  to  the  fruits  and  growing  crops  during 
their  passage,  their  liot.  withering  character  extracting  much  water 
from  the  soil  and  \cgetation. 

Alternating  periods  of  rainy  weather  and  sunshine  occur  in  the 
rainy  .scjison,  but  the  summer  months  are  very  bright  and  clear,  clouds 
being  rarely  seen.  At  Red  Blulf  from  the  year  1877  to  1909  the  clear 
days  average  210,  i)artly  cloudy  77,  and  cloudy  72  per  year.  The 
average  numi)er  of  foggy  days  at  the  same  place  for  the  same  period 
was  9  per  year.  An  average  of  2  hail  storms  and  4  thunderstorms 
occur  during  each  year.  Snow  in  quantities  is  a  rather  rare  occur- 
rence, l>iit  in  Jiimiary.  1907,  Red  Bluff  received  14  inches.  Light 
frosts  and  films  of  ice  appear  during  the  winter  months.     At  Red 


SOIL   SUEVEY   OF   THE   RED   BLUFF   AREA,   CALIFORNIA. 


11 


Bluff  the  last  killing;  frost  occurs  in  spring  at  an  average  date  of 
March  15;  the  first  in  the  fall  at  an  average  date  of  November  25. 
The  following  table  gives  monthly  and  annual  mean  temperatures  for 
several  stations : 

Monthhi  (itid  annual  mean  temperatures. 


Red  Bluff, 
1878-1909. 


Chico, 
1870-1900. 


Sacra- 
mento, 
1853-1900. 


Fresno, 

1888-1900. 


January 

February.. 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 

September . 

October 

November . 
December. . 

Mean 


F. 
45. 
49. 
53. 
59. 
6G. 
74. 
81. 
SO. 
73. 
G3. 
53. 
46. 


F. 


G2. 


46.9 
50.3 
55.6 
61.6 

68.4 
77.1 
83.9 
81.5 
74.6 
64.6 
53.8 
47.5 


'F. 

47.5 
51.2 
65.0 
58.5 
02.7 
70.3 
73.1 
70.3 
69.8 
61.3 
54.5 
45.4 


45.3 
50.2 
54.4 
60.8 
67.4 
74.1 
82.1 
81.0 
73.8 
64.2 
54.6 
47.0 


63.8 


60.0 


63.0 


At  Red  Bluff  during  the  period  from  187T  to  1009  there  was  an 
average  of  82  days  per  j'^ear  when  the  thermometer  did  not  fall  below 
90°.  There  was  no  day  when  it  did  not  rise  above  32°  F.  The  abso- 
lute maximum  temperatures  usually  occur  during  the  months  of 
July  and  August,  high  readings  of  109°  to  112°  F.  being  of  frequent 
occurrence.  An  absolute  maximum  of  115°  was  reached  at  the  Red 
Bluff'  station  during  the  summer  of  1902.  The  highest  temperature 
recorded  at  the  Chico  station  has  been  117°  F.  As  is  usual  with  the 
high  temperatures  of  semiarid  regions,  the  oppressiveness  is  dimin- 
ished by  the  extreme  dryness  of  the  air.  The  nights  are  not  usually 
oppressive.  The  absolute  minimum  temperatures  are  usually  re- 
corded during  the  months  of  December,  January,  and  February. 
Low^  temperatures  of  24°  to  28°  F.  are  the  rule.  In  1885  the  low  tem- 
perature at  Red  Bluff  was  33°.  An  absolute  minimum  of  18°  was 
reached  in  January,  1888.  The  lowest  temperature  recorded  at  the 
Chico  station  is  also  18°  F. 

The  climate  of  the  Red  Bluff'  area  is  remarkably  salubrious.  As 
with  the  major  part  of  the  great  valley,  it  is  very  well  suited  to 
fruit  culture,  the  absence  of  rains  during  the  summer  allowing  the 
curing  of  dried  fruits  and  hay  to  proceed  without  loss.  Frosts  do 
little  damage  to  fruits.  The  uncultivated  sections  have  a  rather 
bleak  appearance  during  the  hot  summer  months,  but  the  winter 
months  present  a  marked  contrast.  At  those  times  wdien  the  eastern 
humid  sections  are  barren  of  green  growth  the  w^inter  rains  of  this 


12 


FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU   OF   SOILS,   1910. 


section  revive  all  small  vefjetation.  and  a  fresh,  jrreen  appearance  is 
everj'where  noted.     Durino-  the  sprinotinie  the  area  is  at  its  best. 

AGRICULTURE. 

The  history  of  the  early  settlement  of  the  area  is  indefinite  and 
uncertain.  It  is  certain,  however,  that  Gen.  John  Bidwell,  of  Sntters 
Fort,  on  the  site  of  Sacramento  City,  visited  Tehama  County  in 
18-13,  named  most  of  the  geographical  points,  and  secured  valuable 
information  concerning  the  section.  The  following  year  AVilliam  G. 
Chard,  A.  G.  Toomes,  and  E.  H.  Thomas  became  the  first  settlers. 
Upon  entering  the  region  the  early  settlers  allotted  the  land  among 
themselves,  with  the  ultimate  aim  of  securing  large  grants  from  the 
Mexican  Government.  They  made  their  first  camp  on  Elder  Creek, 
and  mention  is  made  of  the  presence  of  deer,  elk,  and  other  game 
animals,  previously  undisturbed,  in  large  numbers.  A  heavier 
growth  of  wild  oats  and  native  grasses  everywhere  appeared  than 
was  the  rule  in  later  years.  The  Mexican  land  grants  made  within 
the  present  limits  of  Tehama  County  were  as  follows.  They  were 
finally  confirmed  by  the  United  States  Government  on  the  dates 
indicated ; 


Name  of  grant. 

Area. 

Grantee. 

Year  con- 
firmed. 

Acres. 
17,707 
13,315 
26,637 
22,172 
22,212 

W.B.Ide 

W.G.  Chard 

J.  F.  Dye 

1860 

1859 

Primer  Canyon  Rio  tie  los  Berrondes 

1871 

Rio  de  los  Molinos 

A.  G.  Toomes 

R.H.Thomas.... 

1858 

Sauces 

1857 

Gen.  Hidwell  took  (lie  famous  Cliico  ranch,  while  Maj.  P.  B. 
Reading  took  a  grant  north  of  Cottonwood  Creek  in  Shasta  County, 
covered  by  the  Ketlding  area  survey.  The  two  latter  men  are  closely 
associated  with  the  incident's  surrounding  the  early  settlement  and 
development  of  this  region. 

These  early  j)ioneers  worked  on  their  places,  endeavoring  to  develop 
a  cattle  induct ry,  until  the  discovery  of  gold  in  1848.  They  then 
left  their  faiiiis  for  the  mines,  but  afterwards  returned  when  their 
experience  had  been  sullicient.  The  impression  existed  generally  that 
the  soil  of  the  entire  area  was  not  suitable  for  farm  crops  and  that 
stock  raising  was  the  only  piiut  i<al)l('  industry.  Along  such  lines 
the  development  extended. 

Planning  Ijegan  in  185-2  with  an  expcriuiental  crop  of  grains,  and 
from  that  date  the  movement  s})read  rapidly.  The  fii-st  sawmill 
and  gristmill  were  erected  in  1851  on  Mill  Creek  at  the  river.     It  is 


SOIL   SURVEY   OF   THE   RED   BLUFF   AREA,    CALIFORNIA.  13 

interesting  to  note  that  the  first  steamer  on  the  upper  Sacramento 
was  the  Lady  Washington^  in  1849-50,  and  that  several  small  steam- 
ers navigated  the  canyon  above  Red  Bhitf  in  these  early  days.  An 
influx  of  population,  due  in  part  to  a  movement  of  mine  seekers, 
led  to  the  development  of  various  industries,  with  which  agriculture 
kept  j)ace.  Wheat  growing  received  most  attention.  It  was  at  first 
confined  to  the  deep  alluvial  soils  along  the  streams,  but  gradually 
extended  over  the  uplands  until  all  tillable  land  of  the  area  was  sown 
to  grain  under  extensive  systems.  Profits  were  good  and  enormous 
quantities  of  grain  were  shipped  into  the  world  markets  b}^  railroad 
and  river  steamers.  The  usual  methods  applicable  to  an  extensive 
system  of  agriculture,  embracing  the  use  of  the  gang  plow  and  the 
combined  harvester,  were  employed.  Even  with  such  labor-saving 
machinery,  enabling  large  tracts  to  be  farmed,  the  industry  declined 
in  the  face  of  decreased  yields  and  lower  j^rices.  A  gradual  shrink- 
age in  the  area  devoted  to  grain  has  followed,  until  at  this  time  the 
grain  belt  is  practically  confined  to  the  bottom  lands.  The  upland 
types,  as  noted  in  their  descriptions,  are  now  devoted  mainly  to 
grazing.  Such  parts  of  the  latter  sections  as  produce  grain  do  so 
only  by  practicing  summer  fallowing.  The  principal  part  of  this 
abandoned  upland  section  is  very  sparsely  settled,  and  while  land 
values  are  lower  than  in  the  best  grain-producing  days  they  are  not 
yet  at  a  low  ebb  because  of  irrigation  possibilities.  About  1,500,000 
bushels  of  grain  are  annually  produced. 

There  are  many  small  holdings  of  land  in  the  Red  Bluff  area,  but 
some  of  the  great  land  grants  and  subsequently  acquired  tracts  remain 
nearly  intact,  extending  over  hundreds  and  in  some  cases  thousands 
of  acres.  They  retard  the  development  of  the  section,  but  sub- 
division is  hardly  possible  without  irrigation.  A  large  body  of  land 
near  Corning  has  been  gradually  sold  in  small  tracts  since  the  early 
nineties.  A  tract  around  Los  Molinos  has  recently  been  watered  and 
is  now  being  disposed  of  in  small  farms.  Some  of  the  alluvial  bot 
toms  of  the  Sacramento  and  the  soils  along  Thomas  and  Elder 
Creeks  are  held  in  moderate-sized  tracts,  but  great  holdings  cover  the 
most  of  the  area.  Among  these  may  be  mentioned  the  great  Finnell 
and  Cone  ranches  near  Red  Bluff,  the  Stanford  ranch  near  Vina,  and 
others. 

At  about  the  time  when  grain  growing  began  to  decline  m  this 
area,  fruit  growing  was  tried  with  increasing  success.  (See  PI.  I,  fig. 
1.)  The  more  friable  alluvial  soils  of  good  water-holding  qualities 
were  selected,  and  by  careful  methods  quite  a  fruit  industry  has  been 
built  up  on  a  dry-farming  basis.  Irrigation  is  practiced  in  certain 
sections,  as  noted  further  on  in  this  report  under  the  proper  head, 
but  the  greater  part  of  the  fruit  is  produced  without  it.  In  1907 
Tehama  County  produced  $1,281,531  worth  of  deciduous  fruits,  with 


14  FIELD   OPF.EATIONS    OF   THE   BUREAU    OF   SOILS,   1910. 

peaches,  in'unes.  and  a})ricots  of  importance  in  the  order  named.  The 
peaches  are  used  mainly  for  canning  and  drying,  Muir,  Crawford,  and 
Elberta  being  the  varieties  mostly  used.  Apricots  are  both  dried  and 
shipped  as  green  fi'uit.  Figs,  almonds,  olives,  pears,  and  grapes  are 
well  represented.  (See  PI.  I,  fig.  '2.)  The  100-acre  irrigated  pear 
orchard  of  the  Cone  ranch  is  reported  to  have  netted  its  owners 
$32,000  in  one  year.  There  are  many  good  orchards  of  the  above 
fruits  in  the  Red  Blutf  area,  but  also  great  numbers  of  poorly  cared 
for  or  entirely  abandoned  orchards.  This  condition  arises  from  va- 
rious causes,  but  is  often  due  to  the  selection  of  dry  elevated  soils, 
where  it  is  too  much  to  expect  fruit  trees  to  thrive  without  irrigation. 
Some  injudicious  colonization  has  taken  place.  Considerable  sections 
have  been  planted  and  sold  in  small  holdings  with  the  idea  of  special 
crops  without  irrigation.  Scarcely  a  vestige  remains  of  some  such 
attempts.  The  probable  adaptations  of  the  several  soils  for  dry- 
i^'armed  crops  are  covered  in  the  soil-type  descriptions. 

Green  feed  is  abundant  during  the  winter  season,  but  the  dairying 
industry  suffers  for  want  of  such  feed  in  the  summer  months.  Under 
irrigation  the  industry  should  expand  immensely. 

Tehama  County  is  one  of  the  banner  sheep  counties  of  the  State, 
with  about  300,000  head.  Cattle  number  about  30,000.  Stock  range 
in  the  mountains  from  May  to  October  and  in  the  valley  during  the 
winter,  when  they  are  fattened.  The  cattle  and  sheep  industries  are 
not  likely  to  assume  much  larger  proportions  than  they  have  at 
present. 

Alfalfa  is  the  principal  hay  crop  and  is  grown  mainly  in  the  Sac- 
ramento bottoms  without  irrigation.  A  mill  for  the  manufacture  of 
alfalfa  products  has  been  established  at  Alfalfa,  south  of  Red  Bluff. 

The  Stanford  ranch  at  Vina  has  about  3,000  acres  in  grapes  of  the 
wine  varieties.  The  dairying,  wine,  and  alfalfa  industries  at  that 
place  are  well  handled  and  arc  a  remarkable  example  of  farming 
on  a  large  scale. 

Most  of  the  vegetables  and  truck  ci'ops  are  grown  by  Chinese.  As 
usual  in  this  section  of  the  country  the  farmers  buy  such  products. 

Several  cars  of  citrus  fruits  are  reported  shipped  from  Corning 
each  year  (see  PI.  II,  fig.  1).  The  future  extension  of  this  industry 
is  uncertain. 

Two  or  three  hop  iiclds  are  found  in  the  Sacramento  bottoms. 
Poultry  raising  is  quite  an  industry,  especially  to  the  west  of  Corn- 
ing. Climatic  conditions  are  very  favorable  and  great  increases 
in  this  branch  are  probal)le. 

The  Red  Bluff  area  [jroduces  many  agricultural  products,  but 
agriculture  is  in  a  very  unsatisfactory  state.  The  natural  wealth 
of  the  section  in  undevelojx'd  resources  is  immense.  Its  diversity 
of  soils  and    r;i\uial>l('  cjiniatic  conditions  will  some  day  make  it  a 


SOIL  SUEVEY   OF    THE   RED   BLUFF   AREA,   CALIFORNIA.  15 

vast  producer  of  widely  varied  crops  and  render  it  a  section  of 
small  intensive  farming  industries.  It  has  not  as  yet.  shared  in 
that  extensive  irrigation  development  which  has  transformed  so 
many  of  the  other  regions  of  the  State  into  gardens  of  productive- 
ness. All  agricultural  interests  are  feverishly  awaiting  irrigation 
development,  and  perhaps  a  foresight  of  the  greater  era  to  come 
discourages  any  attempt  to  make  the  most  of  present  conditions. 
A  realization  of  the  next  necessary  step  is  everywhere  present,  and 
land  values  ^s  well  as  attitudes  toward  agricultural  development 
all  anticipate  the  coming  of  extensive  irrigation.  Prices  of  land 
over  the  entire  area  are  based  upon  their  worth  as  irrigable  lands 
and  not  upon  their  intrinsic  present  worth  without  water.  The 
improvements  anticipated  are  certain  to  come  and  everyone  realizes 
the  present  transitorv  state  of  agriculture. 

IRRIGATION    AND   DRAINAGE. 

The  Sacramento  Valley  is  perhaps  the  only  region  of  its  size  and 
importance  in  the  United  States  whose  advancement  and  develop- 
ment is  retarded  by  such  conflicting  soil  conditions.  Great  bodies  of 
rich,  deep  soils  are  rendered  uninhabitable  or  practically  useless  for 
agricultural  purposes  by  periodic  floods.  Bordering  the  territory  so 
affected  are  other  still  greater  bodies  of  soil  only  slightly  more  ele- 
vated yet  continuously  lacking  even  tJie  relatively  small  supply  of 
moisture  needed  to  mature  even  a  grain  crop. 

It  is  principally  upon  soils  occupying  the  mean  between  these  two 
extreme  conditions  that  the  greatest  number  of  homes  and  industries 
have  been  built.  The  greater  areas  occurring  as  overflow  and  semi- 
arid  lands  have  nowhere  been  extensively  utilized  or  effectively  man- 
aged. The  largest  problem  of  the  future  in  the  Sacramento  Valley 
wnll  be  the  reclamation,  through  a  comprehensive  drainage  and  pro- 
tection project,  of  the  lands  now  rendered  useless  by  floods,  and  the 
storage  of  waters  for  the  irrigation  of  such  lands  as  need  irrigation. 
The  engineering  and  financial  features  involved  are  formidable  and 
intricate,  but  must  be  solved  in  the  progress  of  time.  It  is  agreed  that 
the  ideal  method  involves  the  simultaneous  handling  of  the  two  prob- 
lems. Storage  of  vast  quantities  of  water  will  relieve  the  flooded 
areas,  and  the  stored  water  will  be  available  for  irrigating  the  higher 
lands.  Pending  the  consummation  of  such  a  vast  undertaking  vari- 
ous irrigation  systems  of  small  scope  have  been  installed  throughout 
the  valley.     The  Eed  Bluff  area  contains  some  such  scattered  systems. 

The  lower  soils  of  the  Red  Bluff  area  are  not  subject  to  such  ex- 
tensive and  continuous  flooding  as  in  sections  of  the  valley  occurring 
farther  south.  Much  damage  is  done,  however,  and  the  handling  of 
the  flood  waters  of  the  Sacramento  would  materially  increase  the  pro- 
10970^—12 3 


16  FIELD   OPERATIONS    OF   THE   BUREAU    OF    SOILS,   1910. 

duc'tiveness  of  the  river  bottoms.  The  instalhilion  of  irrigation  with 
pumping:  plants  or  other  systems  would  then  be  possible  without  dan- 
ger of  loss  during  floods.  Leveling  and  other  improvements  could 
proceed  in  an  uninterrupted  Avay.  There  are  many  parts  of  this  low- 
lying  belt  farmed  from  home  buildings  located  on  the  uplands. 
Under  such  conditions  it  can  easily  l^e  seen  that  intensively  farmed 
small  tracts  are  impossible  without  river  control.  Fortunately  the 
river  bottom  soils  are  the  only  ones  of  the  area  with  adverse  drainage 
conditions.  Xo  doubt  the  greater  part  of  the  Sacramento  bottoms 
could  be  irrigated  by  pumping  at  this  time  were  it  not  for  the  floods 
at  points  where  the  necessary  plants  must  be  placed.  The  manner 
and  extent  of  the  damage  by  flooding  is  discussed  in  the  description 
of  the  soil  types. 

The  several  small  irrigation  systems  established  in  the  Red  Bluff 
area  lie  largely  upon  the  east  side  of  the  river.  The  three  most 
important  perennial  streams  of  that  section  furnish  water  to  more 
or  less  extensively  irrigated  tracts.  "Water  from  Antelope  Creek 
has  been  used  in  the  general  farming  operations  of  the  Cone  ranch 
for  many  years.  Considerable  areas  of  alfalfa  and  some  good  or- 
chards on  the  ranch  are  irrigated  from  this  source.  Chinese  vegetable 
gardeners  are  also  supplied.  The  soils  covered  by  these  systems  are 
principally  those  of  the  Vina  series.  Extension  of  the  irrigated  area 
is  possible,  but  it  is  not  probable  that  Antelope  Creek  carries  sufficient 
water  for  all  the  soils  lying  within  its  delta  capable  of  irrigation. 

The  Los  Molinos  tract,  consisting  of  about  10,000  acres  along  and 
bordering  the  delta  of  Mill  Creek,  has  been  subdivided  and  i^laced 
upon  the  market  with  a  water  right  in  that  stream.  Considerable 
irrigation  development  has  taken  place  upon  the  various  types  of  the 
Vina  series  and  will  no  doubt  be  extended.  Quite  a  body  of  small 
farms  intensively  cultivated  can  be  built  up  in  this  region  lying  be- 
tween the  Tuscan  series  and  the  Sacramento  River.  The  supply  of 
water  will  be  exhausted,  however,  before  all  the  land  is  developed. 

The  Vina  section  is  quite  liberally  irrigated  by  water  from  Deer 
Creek.  As  in  the  vicinity  of  the  other  creeks  of  the  east  side,  there 
are  bodies  of  good  soils  favorably  situated  for  irrigation,  yet  unirri- 
gated  because  of  inadefjuate  water  supply.  The  combined  flow  of 
the  three  perennial  east  side  streams  is  not  sufficient  to  serve  all  of 
the  irrigable  soils  of  that  section.  More  conservative  use  can  be  made 
of  the  water  and  good  intensively  farmed  sections  developed,  but 
there  will  still  remain  large  areas  to  be  watered  from  other  sources. 

A  portion  of  a  tract  of  land  Icnown  as  the  Richfield  Colony,  lying 
west  of  Corning,  irrigated  during  the  spring  by  water  from  intermit- 
tent streams  of  the  locality,  is  also  covered  by  the  survey.  Natural 
subirrigation  giving  rise  (o  moist  subsoils  here  assists  in  bringing 
about  condition^  fnvoiable  to  crop  production.     At  intervals  along 


Report  of  Bureau  of  Soils,  U.  S.  Dept,  of  Agriculture,  1910. 


Plate  I. 


Fig.  1.— Peach  Orchard  on  Cone  Ranch  near  Red  Bluff. 
[An  example  of  successfnl  I'rnit  culture  iu  tlie  Red  Blutt'urea.] 


Fig.  2.— Almond  Orchard  near  Corning,  on  a  Favorably  Situated  Area  of 
Tehama  Silt  Loam. 

[An  t'.\Mijii)le  of  a.  well-kept  and  thrift}-  (irchard.] 


Report  of  Bureaj  of  So  Is,  U.  S.  Deot.  of  Agriculture,   1910. 


Plate  II. 


Fig.  1.— a  Successful  Small  Orange  Orchard  near  Corning,  Tehama  County. 

[Irrigatt'd  from  suiall  |iiiiiipiiig  plant.] 


Fig.  2.— Rough  Stony  Land        v_-_.anic  Bowlders  Occu.--!.<!\,.  Ea, 


Vina. 


SOIL    SUEVEY    OF   THE    RED    BLUFF   AREA,    CALIFORNIA.  17 

the  Sacramento  River  and  Thomas  and  Elder  Creeks,  and  in  the 
vicinity  of  Corning,  small  amounts  of  water  are  supplied  for  irriga- 
tion by  several  pumping  plants.  The  soil  types  irrigated  by  means 
of  pumping  are  designated  in  their  individual  descriptions.  Electric 
power  for  pumping  is  available  at  low  rates  and  the  feasibility  of  the 
system  depends  simply  upon  a  question  of  the  water  suppl}'. 

The  total  development  in  irrigation  above  noted  is  considerable,  but 
in  no  way  approximates  the  possibilities  of  the  area.  The  Iron  Can- 
yon project  has  been  much  talked  of.  This  is  an  enormous  under- 
taking, involving  features  of  storage,  river  control,  and  irrigation. 
All  the  drainage  water  of  the  upper  Sacramento  Basin  flows  through 
the  Iron  Canyon,  previously  mentioned  as  being  located  a  short  dis- 
tance above  Red  Bluff.  It  is  described  as  a  natural  reservoir  site, 
and  in  conjunction  with  others  of  a  similar  nature  farther  north  and 
south  can  be  used  to  store  sufficient  water  for  the  irrigation  of 
2,000,000  acres.  The  reclamation  of  vast  areas  of  overflow  land 
would  follow  the  storage  of  flood  waters.  The  immense  benefit  which 
would  result  to  all  the  valley  is  unquestioned.  Its  magnitude  rather 
than  questions  of  feasibility  is  all  that  delays  the  undertaking. 

It  is  reported  that  Elder  and  Thomas  Creeks  have  storage  pos- 
sibilities at  various  points  along  their  upper  courses.  Their  annual 
flood  discharge  is  enormous,  and  the  development  of  lands  with  wafpr 
drawn  from  such  reservoirs  is  perfectly  feasible. 

It  is  believed  that  a  study  of  the  soil  type  descriptions  will  reveal 
their  adaptations  and  possibilities  under  irrigation.  The  question  of 
success  or  failure  of  a  project  of  course  depends  primarily  upon  the 
character  of  the  soils. 

The  entire  future  of  the  Red  Bluff  area  will  be  identified  with  irri- 
gation. Practically  all  development  must  come  through  its  further 
extension. 

SOILS. 

The  soils  of  the  Red  Bluff  area  were  separated  into  26  types. 
Two  additional  types  of  no  agricultural  value  were  also  outlined, 
namely,  Riverwash  and  Rough  stony  land.  Certain  of  the  former 
types  are  related  to  each  other  in  origin,  in  process  of  formation,  and 
topography,  and  are  arranged  in  groups  on  a  basis  of  these  man}^ 
resemblances.  The  boundaries  between  the  types  of  the  same  series, 
as  well  as  between  tj^pes  of  different  series,  are  not  at  all  times  dis- 
tinct, but  similarities  and  differences  are  sufficiently  marked  to  throw 
the  26  types  into  nine  broad  divisions,  each  containing  several  types. 

Excepting  the  Rough  stony  land,  the  soils  of  the  area  are  derived 
in  part  from  the  original  deposits  of  the  Sacramento  Valley,  and  in 
part  from  ancient  and  modern  alluvium  of  the  streams  that  traverse 
the  region.     The  former  consists  broadly  of  two  types  of  deposits. 


18  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF    THE   BUREAU    OF   SOILS,   1910. 

West  of  the  Sacranieiito  River  and  in  a  very  few  places  on  the  east 
side,  it  consists  of  sand,  chiy,  and  waterworn  gravel.  The  pebbles  in 
the  gravel  are  usually  small,  well  rounded,  and  derived  from  fine- 
grained eruptive  rocks,  quartz  and  quartzite,  etc.  The  pebbles  when 
exposed  are  usually  weathered  to  a  reddish  color,  or  are  mixed  with 
and  coated  with  the  finer  material,  which  is  reddish  in  color.  In 
general,  on  the  east  side  of  the  valley  the  ancient  deposit  consists 
mainly  of  waterworn  gravel  with  a  relatively  small  proportion  of 
sand  and  a  still  smaller  proportion  of  clay.  The  pebbles  are  much 
larger,  as  a  rule,  than  those  on  the  west  side,  are  well  rounded,  and 
derived  from  basaltic  rocks.  The  sands  are  likewise  mainly  basaltic 
in  origin.  Avith  small  quantities  of  quartz,  and  in  addition,  there  are 
occasional  layers  of  basaltic  tuff. 

The  soils  derived  from  the  ancient  deposits  of  the  western  side  of 
the  valley  are  classed  under  the  head  of  the  Redding,  Corning,  and 
in  part,  as  the  Tehama  series. 

In  tlie  Redding  series  two  types  were  mapped.  They  are  prevail- 
ingly reddish  in  color  and  usually  carry  quantities  of  waterworn 
gravel.  These  types  occupy  the  highest  elevations  in  their  section  of 
the  survey  and  are  gently  sloping  to  rolling  in  contour.  They  possess 
thin  layers  of  heavy  subsoil  resting  directly  upon  a  true,  impenetrable 
hardpan  several  inches  thick.  This  hardpan  in  turn  is  underlain  by 
indefinite  masses  of  coarse  deposits  in  a  partially  cemented  condition. 
Most  of  this  series  is  poorly  adapted  to  dry-farming  methods,  is  bar- 
ren in  appearance,  and  locallv  known  as  "  red  lands  ''  or  "  hardpan 
lands." 

In  the  southwestern  part  of  the  Red  Bluff  area  occur  several  bod- 
ies at  about  the  same  relative  elevation  as  the  Redding  series  farther 
north  in  the  area.  These  ridges  and  small  elevations  in  this  section 
are  occupied  by  remnants  of  the  Red  Bluff'  formation,  but  in  an 
altered  state  sufficient  to  remove  them  from  the  Redding  series.  Tiie 
true  hardpan  seems  to  have  been  removed,  and  there  are  somewhat 
deeper  coverings  of  soil  resting  upon  the  semicemented  deeper  lay- 
ers. This  material  constitutes  the  Corning  series  with  two  type 
subdivisions.  As  with  the  Redding,  it  is  a  distinctly  west-side  series, 
and  poorly  adapted  to  dry  farming. 

The  Tehama  series  occupies  two  topographic  situations  and  is  de- 
rived from  two  different  materials,  so  far  as  origin  is  concerned. 
All  of  the  Tehama  soils  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  area  are 
terrace  soils,  occupying  smooth  areas  lying  a  few  feet  below  the 
level  of  the  Redding  soils  and  several  feet  above  the  modern  alluvial 
plains.  In  most  cases  these  are  the  terraces  of  the  small  streams 
draining  the  western  side  of  the  valley,  which  carry  local  material 
mainly,  only  their  headwaters  reaching  back  into  the  foothills  of 
the  coast  ranges.     One  of  the  laigest  areas  is  on  a  well-develoi^ed 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    RED    BLUFF    AREA,    CALIFORNIA.  19 

terrace  lying  south  of  the  modern  channel  of  Redbnnk  Creek.  Nar- 
ro^ver  belts  occur  along  all  the  other  eastward-flowing  streams. 

Northwest  of  Corning  there  is  a  considerable  area  of  Tehama  soils 
derived  directly  from  the  weathering  of  the  Red  Bluff  formation. 
This  area  occurs  in  gently  rolling  country  and  merely  represents  an 
area  of  Red  Bluff  material  that  has  been  eroded  down  to  a  very  gently 
undulating  plain.  It  is  residual  in  origin,  while  the  other  areas  are 
alluvial  in  origin. 

The  Tehama  types  are  prevailingly  yellowish  or  yellowi^^h  brown  in 
color,  deeper  than  the  soils  of  the  previously  mentioned  series  and 
fairly  friable.  A  heavy  subsoil  usually  occurs.  They  are  well 
adapted  to  irrigation,  but  yield  scant  crops  under  dry  farming. 
The  distribution  of  this  series  is  very  general  over  the  west  side. 

The  Maywood  series  comprises  five  types  of  soil  formed  on  the 
terraces  and  alluvial  fans  of  the  small  streams  in  the  southwestern 
part  of  the  area.  They  occur  on  the  level  areas  bordering  these 
streams,  and  lie  below  the  level  of  the  series  already  named.  The 
areas  are  usually  broader  to  the  west  and  narrow  to  the  east  on 
account  of  the  broadening  of  the  alluvial  fans  upstream.  The  series 
as  a  whole  is  grayish  or  yellowish  gray  in  color  and  more  friable 
than  the  Tehama  series.  This  series  is  better  adapted  to  dry-farmed 
fruit  and  grain  than  any  of  the  series  before  mentioned,  but  yields 
are  light  and  could  be  greatly  increased  under  irrigation.  The  May- 
wood  series  occurs  at  intervals  over  the  west  side,  being  confined  to 
that  section. 

In  the  southern  part  of  the  area  occur  inextensive  bodies  of  soil 
material  derived  by  washing  or  erosion  of  adjacent  more  elevated 
bodies  of  soils,  viz,  the  Corning  series.  It  is  deposited  over  lower 
valley  plains,  local  fiats,  or  depressions.  It  represents  eroded  ma- 
terial modified  by  local  conditions  of  restricted  drainage,  of  dark- 
gray  color,  and  compact,  refractory  structure.  In  this  area  the 
material  gives  a  single  soil  type.  It  is  classed  as  a  member  of  the 
Kirkwood  series. 

Several  of  the  west  side  major  streams  have  constructed  alluvial 
bottoms  from  foreign  material  along  their  courses  in  the  Red  Bluff 
area.  These  soils  are  mostly  derived  fi'om  rocks  along  the  sources 
of  Thomas  and  Elder  Creeks  in  the  foothills  and  mountains  of  the 
Coast  Range,  and  have  not  been  greatly  influenced  by  addition  of 
material  eroded  from  adjacent  soils.  These  depressed  valley  soils 
enter  the  west  edge  of  the  survey  and  continue  to  the  great  alluvial 
plain  of  the  Sacramento,  where  they  gradually  lose  their  identity. 
They  are  dark  in  color,  deep  and  friable  in  character,  and  excellent 
soils  for  every  purpose.  Three  types  were  found  and  classed  as  the 
Elder  series. 


20  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU   OF   SOILS,   1910. 

The  soils  derived  from  the  original  valley  deposits,  occurring  o)i 
the  eastern  side  of  the  valley,  come  from  what  is  locally  known  as 
'*  lava  flows."  The  soils  are  reddish  brown  or  brown  shallow  soils  of 
little  or  no  agricultural  value.  They  occupy  a  sloping  dissected  plain 
and  are  burdened  with  great  quantities  of  bowlders  of  varying  size 
derived  from  volcanic  rocks.  An  impenetrable  mass  of  cemented 
waterworn  gravel  is  encountered  at  a  depth  of  a  few  inches  and  ex- 
tends to  great  depths.  These  are  probably  the  most  hopeless  soils  of 
the  area  and  are  classified  as  the  Tuscan  series,  represented  by  two 
types.  They  are  derived  from  valley  deposits  probably  of  the  same 
age  as  the  Ked  Bluff  deposits,  but  derived  from  the  volcanic  rocks  of 
the  Lassen  Peak  region.  The  great  body  of  the  deposit  is  a  coarse 
mass  of  rather  well-worn  pebbles  and  bowlders  of  volcanic  rocks  with 
interstratified  beds  of  finer  material,  the  latter  including  some  beds 
of  tuff.  The  series  is  separated  on  its  lowest  edge  from  the  Sacra- 
mento bottoms  by  sharp  bluffs  '20  to  GO  feet  high.  It  is  extremely 
arid,  unproductive,  and  capable  of  little  development.  Ages  ago  it 
occupied  a  much  greater  extent  than  at  present,  but  processes  of  ero- 
sion have  removed  the  material  over  Avide  areas  and  other  areas  have 
been  covered  with  alluvium. 

The  Vina  series,  consisting  of  four  types,  is  confined  to  the  east 
side  of  the  valley.  These  soils  are  alluvial  in  character  and  the 
product  of  the  numerous  east  side  streams.  They  occupy  sections 
occurring  as  valleys  or  deltas  once  occupied  bj'^  the  Tuscan  series. 
The  series  is  usually  separated  from  the  Tuscan  series  by  marked 
terraces,  but  at  its  lower  edges  it  merges  gradually  into  the  slightly 
lower  Sacramento  series.  These  soils  are  in  the  main  brownish  or 
dark  gray  in  color,  friable,  and  productive.  Some  of  the  members 
constitute  the  best  soils  of  the  area,  while  one  or  two  are  unproductive. 

The  soils  of  the  great  alluvial  flood  plain  of  the  Sacramento,  which 
traverses  the  area,  were  classed  here,  as  in  the  other  areas  surveyed  in 
the  valley,  as  the  Sacramento  series.  Four  types  were  recognized  and 
correlated  with  previously  recognized  types.  These  soils  are  the 
direct  product  of  sedimentation  by  the  Sacramento  River,  the  ma- 
terials being  derived  along  its  upper  course.  The}'  are  light  gray  or 
dark  gray  in  color,  slightly  micaceous,  and  of  variable  textures  and 
indistinctlv  sepai-ated  from  each  other.  A  deep  soil  and  friable 
structure  are  the  rule.  The  series  comprises  the  most  productive 
soils  in  the  area.  It  occurs  as  a  broad,  level  plain  marked  by  over- 
flow channels  with  considerable  sections  subjected  to  flooding.  A 
marked  terrace  bounds  its  outer  limits  and  the  river  occupies  a  wind- 
ing channel  10  to  20  feet  deep  through  its  level  surface. 

The  great  variability  in  the  soils  of  the  Red  Bluff  area  makes  few 
geneial  -tateniciits  j)()ssibl('.  Tiiey  are  usually  well  drained  and  pro- 
ductive whenever  moisture  conditions  are  favorable.     It  is  no  doubt 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    EED    BLUFF    AREA,    CALIFORNIA. 


21 


the  best  drained  section  of  the  valley.  The  ujDland  soils  are  always 
deficient  in  organic  matter,  but  can  be  improved  under  irrigation 
and  hy  the  addition  of  green  manures.  Alkali  is  nowhere  present. 
Even  ordinary  care  in  the  use  of  irrigation  water  will  relieve  this  area 
of  all  the  danger  fi-om  alkali  so  frequently  resulting  in  other  irrigated 
sections. 

The  following  table  gives  the  names  and  extent  of  the  various  soil 
types  found  in  the  Red  Bluif  area  : 

Areas  of  different  soils. 


Soil. 


Tehama  silt  loam 

Tuscan  stony  sandy  loam 

Sacramento  silt  loam 

Corning  gravelly  loam 

Coming  loam 

Sandy  phase 

Redding  loam 

Sacramento  fine  sandy  loam . . 

Vina  fine  sandy  loam 

Maywood  loam 

Tuscan  stony  loam 

Vina  clay  loam 

Rough  stony  land 

Bedding  gravelly  sandy  loam. 
Vina  loam 

Deep  silty  phase 

Vina  clay  adobe 

Deep  phase 


Acres. 

Per  cent. 

29,888 

14.3 

25,728 

12.4 

19,32^ 

9.3 

18,752 

9.0 

9,280 
2,880 

1 

J 

5.8 

11,456 

5.5 

10,496 

5.1 

8,768 

4.2 

8,576 

4.1 

8,000 

3.8 

6,848 

3.3 

5,824 

2.8 

5,504 

2.6 

2,368 
3,072 

2.6 

4,352 
576 

2.4 

Soil. 


Tehama  gravelly  loam 

Sacramento  silty  clay  loam. . . 

Elder  silt  loam 

Riverwash 

Maywood  silt  loam 

Maj'wood  gravelly  sandy 

loam 

Elder  silty  clay  loam 

Tehama  clay 

Maywood  fine  sandy  loam 

Kirlvwood  silty  clay  adobe 

Sacramento  fine  sand 

Elder    gravelly    fine    sandy 

loam 

Mavwood  siltv  clav  loam 


Acres. 


4,032 
3,584 
3,392 
3,200 
2,308 

2,048 
1,600 
1,536 
1,536 
1,536 
896 

832 
384 


Total 208,640 


Per  cent. 


1.9 
1.7 
1.0 
1.5 
1.2 


KEDDING    LOAM. 


The  Redding  loam  in  some  of  its  general  features  resembles  the 
gravelly  sandy  loam  of  the  same  series,  but  in  agricultural  value 
there  is  a  marked  difference.  This  type  is  remarkably  uniform  and 
consists  of  a  loam,  yellowish  red  to  red  in  color,  sticky  and  boggy 
when  wet,  and  carrying  considerable  quantities  of  medium-sized 
waterworn  material.  The  coarser  particles  range  in  size  from  sand 
and  subangular  fragments  to  rounded  gravels  2  inches  or  more  in 
diameter,  quartz  often  predominating.  Such  quantities  of  coarse 
material,  which  would  usually  render  a  soil  rather  friable,  fails  in 
this  case  materially  to  improve  the  tilth.  This  is  due  to  seasonal 
conditions,  saturation  being  quickly  followed  by  a  compact  puddled 
state,  rendered  somewhat  worse  by  a  low  content  of  organic  matter. 
This  surface  loam  at  G  to  18  inches  grades  sharply  into  a  subsoil 
closely  resembling  that  of  the  Redding  gravelly  sandy  loam,  being 
a  red  clay  or  clay  loam  of  impervious,  slightly  indurated  structure. 
The  subsoil  carries  some  embedded  gi'avel  and  cracks  freely  on  ex- 
posure.   It  is  in  this  case,  however,  of  a  darker  red  color  and  much 


22  FIELD   OPERATIONS    OF    THE   BUREAU    OF   SOILS,   1910. 

more  shallow.  Rarely  is  it  ever  over  G  inches  thick  and  in  all  but 
very  limited  bodies  underlain  by  a  hardpan.  This  is  somewhat 
thicker  and  harder  than  that  underlying  a  portion  of  the  Redding 
gravelly  sandy  loam.  The  line  of  contact  between  the  layer  of  heavy 
subsoil  and  the  great  bodies  of  underlying  impervious  beds  is  quite 
clear,  but  that  portion  defined  as  a  true  hardpan  occurs  as  the  harder 
portion  directly  in  contact  with  the  subsoil.  It  is  co'mposed  largely 
of  clay  particles  firmly  cemented  into  an  imj^enetrable  layer  carrying 
little  gi'avel.  This  true  hardpan  is  a  secondary  development,  occur- 
ring after  the  entire  mass  was  deposited.  It  is  explained  as  the 
result  of  the  downward  movement  of  chi}^  particles  accumulating  in 
the  presence  of  iron  compounds  as  layers  on  the  surfaces  of  the 
underlying  material.  The  true  hardpan,  averaging  about  6  inches 
in  thickness,  well  defined  on  its  upper  surface,  can  be  seen  to  lose 
its  clay  structure  gradually  on  its  lower  surface.  It  then  becomes 
more  gravelly  and  so  grades  rather  indefinitely  into  the  ever-present 
masses  of  gravel,  coarse  sand,  and  silt.  These  latter  materials  occur 
either  as  mixtures  of  varjang  proportions  or  in  roughly  assorted 
beds,  all  sufficiently  cemented  to  be  practically  impervious  to  plant 
roots  even  when  the  overlying  hardpan  is  shattered.  It  will  be  noted 
that  the  total  depth  available  to  plant  roots,  consisting  of  the  loam 
with  gravel  and  the  small  layer  of  heavy  subsoil,  is  seldom  more 
than  24  inches. 

This  type  is  comparatively  extensive  in  the  west-central  portion 
of  the  area  and  is  practically  confined  to  the  west  side  of  the  valley. 
At  the  time  when  the  valley  trough  had  a  higher  general  elevation 
than  at  present  the  material  of  which  this  type  is  composed  ex- 
tended as  a  vast  plain  over  the  section  of  the  Red  Bluff  area  west  of 
the  Sacramento  River.  Present  remnants  of  this  old  plain  are  to- 
day in  evidence  in  the  sections  west  of  the  Red  Bluff'  area  and  south 
of  it  in  the  Colusa  area.  Partial  erosion  of  this  ancient  material, 
with  deposition  of  transported  particles  to  form  soil  types  of  a  lower 
level,  has  left  portions  now  occurring  as  ridges  or  elevated  rolling 
jihiins.  These  are  separated  by  the  minor  drainage  ways  of  the 
valley  slopes  and  mapped  as  Redding  loam. 

Its  general  surface,  while  rolling  and  marked  by  drainage  depres- 
sions, has  detailed  features  of  topography  making  it,  during  the 
rainy  season,  a  poorly-drained  soil.  Numerous  hummocks  or  "  hog 
wallows  "  confine  much  surface  water  or  permit  it  to  escape  slowly 
by  meandering  courses,  little  water  escaping  through  the  subsurface 
layers.  The  type  is  usually  bounded  by  terrace  lines  or  rather 
iibrupt  slopes.  Along  the  courses  of  present  streams  these  small 
bhifi's  are  evidence  (if  active  erosion.  A  change  in  the  stream  course 
which  allows  the  liliilT  to  wealhei-  into  a  slope  accounts  for  most  of 
the  sharj)  lines  -eparat iiig  lliis  type  fiom  the  Tehama,  Elder,  and 


SOIL   SURVEY    OF    THE    RED    BLUFF    AREA,    CALIFORNIA. 


23 


Maywood  series  of  soils.  It  is  only  in  those  bodies  nearer  the  alluvial 
plain  of  the  Sacramento  that  this  type  has  indistinct  boundaries. 
It  is  there  partially  covered  by  later  deposits  rather  than  eroded. 

The  Eedding  loam  is  one  of  the  types  derived  from  what  remains 
of  the  Red  Bluff  formation.  The  coarse  material  in  this  type  cor- 
responds closelj'  to  that  found  in  the  Redding  gravelly  sandy  loam, 
and  in  both  types  it  is  probable  that  weathering  and  simple  erosion, 
accompanied  by  the  formation  of  the  hardpans,  constitutes  the  total 
change  in  the  original  material.  No  evidence  appears  of  reworking 
or  mixture  with  foreign  products.  It  is  treeless  and  presents  a 
forbidding  appearance,  affording  a  scant  pasturage  for  sheep.  The 
type  is  unsuited  for  agricultural  use,  the  few  small  areas  of  grain 
it  supports  being  of  little  importance  in  extent  and  yields.  In  the 
history  of  grain  growing  in  Tehama  County  this  type  was  once 
utilized  to  the  extent  of  a  few  crops,  but  it  decreased  in  yields  and 
was  later  practically  abandoned. 

The  possibilities  of  utilizing  this  type  are  important  considerations 
affecting  the  success  of  any  irrigation  project  designed  to  include  it. 
Its  area  is  extensive,  and  while  somewhat  elevated  a  large  acreage 
will  probably  be  irrigable  under  any  general  irrigation  system.  It 
is.  of  course,  subject  to  no  development  without  irrigation.  Diffi- 
culty will  be  had  in  preparing  some  of  it  for  irrigation,  leveling 
being  necessary.  In  most  cases  furrow  irrigation  will  be  the  most 
feasible  method  of  applying  the  water.  It  has  a  limited  range  in 
crop  adaptation,  its  shallow  depths  prohibiting  the  growth  of  alfalfa, 
prunes,  apricots,  and  all  deeper  rooted  crops.  It  is  entirely  possible, 
however,  that  careful  culture  of  berries,  some  varieties  of  grapes,  figs, 
olives,  and  perhaps  peaches",  will  yield  returns  justifying  a  water  tax. 
The  use  of  fertilizers  will  be  necessary  and  the  content  of  organic 
matter  must  be  increased.  To  justify  the  promotion  of  irrigation 
development  successfully  this  type  should  not  be  made  to  bear  too 
great  a  value.  The  present  nominal  price  of  $12  to  $18  an  acre,  in 
addition  to  irrigation  assessment,  would  appear  to  be  sufficient.  All 
attempts  to  develop  it  without  irrigation  water  must  fail.  It  is  one 
of  the  poorest  soils  of  any  great  extent  in  the  area. 

The  following  table  gives  the  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  the 
soil  and  subsoil  of  this  type : 

Mechanwftl  atialij.^c-^  of  Redding  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

241-52                 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
3.5 
4.2 

Per  cent. 
7.3 
4.2 

Per  cent. 
5.1 
2.9 

Per  cent. 
12.4 
6.6 

Per  cent. 
20.2 
17.8 

Per  cent. 
42.1 
22.5 

Per  cent. 
9.2 

24153 

Subsoil 

42.1 

10970^—12- 


24  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU    OF   SOILS,    1910. 


BEDDING    GRAVELLY    SANDY    LOAM. 


The  Redding  gravelly  sandy  loam  has  a  considerable  range  of  topo- 
graphic features,  giving  the  soil  a  variable  agricultural  vaJue.  Typi- 
cally it  consists  of  a  light-red  to  a  red  sticky  sandy  loam  of  rather 
uniform  texture  but  uncertain  depth,  carrying  medium  to  large  quan- 
tities of  gravel.  This  coarse  gravelly  material  was  all  originally  of 
well-defined  water  worn  character,  but  the  processes  of  weathering 
have  at  this  time  reduced  quantities  of  it  to  a  snbangular  state. 
These  fragments  occurring  with  cobbles  of  rounded  surfaces,  coarse 
sand,  and  quartz  pebbles  give  the  surface  material  a  rather  more 
tillable  structure  than  it  would  otherwise  possess.  This  gravelly 
material  often  accumulates  in  surface  depressions  or  on  eroded  slopes, 
and  at  all  times  a  slight  erosion  of  soil  material  renders  the  immediate 
surface  more  gravelly  than  the  underlying  layers.  The  fragments 
seldom  attain  a  size  sufficient  to  interfere  with  cultivation. 

At  a  depth  which  varies  from  12  to  24  inches  the  surface  soil 
grades  sharply  into  an  exceedingly  tenacious  red  clay  loam  or  heavy 
loam  that  is  practically  free  from  gravel.  It  is  always  compact  and 
lias  a  tendency  to  crack  into  rough  cubes  upon  exposure.  It  some- 
times carries  small  quantities  of  coarse  sand,  but  even  under  this  con- 
dition loses  little  of  its  compact  character.  This  subsoil,  of  great 
water-holding  capacity,  seldom  extends  to  a  depth  of  more  than  4 
feet,  being  usually  underlain  at  variable  depths  by  a  true  ferruginous 
hardpan  of  cemented  clay  particles.  The  hardpan  layer  is  from  1  to 
(')  inches  thick,  impervious  to  water,  and  impenetrable  to  plant  roots, 
and  rests  upon  great  masses  of  indurated  gravel,  silt,  and  sands. 
These  occur  in  partial!}'  assorted  layers  extending  to  great  depths  and 
of  little  value  for  root  development,  even  though  rendered  penetrable 
by  blasting.  In  those  cases  where  the  hardpan  laj^er  is  absent,  the 
subsoil  grades  into  the  massive  bodies  of  semicemented  waterworn 
material  and  the  tyj^e  is  perhaps  a  little  better  agriculturally  by  rea- 
son of  the  slight  disintegration  of  the  mass  at  its  point  of  contact  with 
the  soil. 

This  type  is  confined  to  several  bodies  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
area.  These  occur  as  the  southern  extremity  of  the  low  rolling  hills 
bordering  the  Iron  Canyon  section  of  the  Sacramento  Kiver  and  giv- 
ing way  near  Red  Bluff  to  the  more  level  valley  plains.  The  material 
of  which  this  type  consists  is  a  Pleistocene  alluvial  product,  deposited 
to  great  depths  over  a  considerable  section,  the  present  remnants  of 
which  lie  mainly  north  of  the  Red  Bluff'  area. 

The  surface  of  this  type  is  gently  to  sharply  rolling  and  north  of 
lied  Bluff  nnich  dissected,  with  excessive  drainage  and  a  general 
topography  unfavorable  to  agi'iculture.  A  natural  growth  of  upland 
oaks,  ceanothus.  and   inan/aiiita  cover  these  latter  sections.     Those 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    RED    BLUFF    AREA,    CALIFORNIA. 


25 


bodies  of  small  extent  occurring  south  of  Red  Bluff  are  partially 
cleared  and  developed.  Grain,  giving  nominal  yields,  is  the  principal 
product.  The  type  is  as  well  adapted  to  dry  farming  methods  as  any 
other  of  the  distinctly  upland  types,  but  insufficient  and  ])oorly  dis- 
tributed rainfall  hinders  its  development.  Irrigation  will  render  a 
variety  of  crops  profitable.  Berries  and  peaches  will  predominate,  as 
on  this  tj^pe  in  the  HapjDy  Valley  section  of  the  Redding  area.  It 
will  not  be  found  so  well  adapted  to  alfalfa.  When  irrigated  it  will 
be  farmed  where  the  topography  permits.  Exception  is  made  of  those 
limited  shallow  areas  where  the  underlying  impervious  material  too 
closely  approaches  the  surface.  It  is  a  much  better  soil  than  the 
Redding  loam,  the  latter  type  lacking  the  depth  of  soil  and  subsoil 
.and  at  the  same  time  being  more  poorly  drained. 

The  following  table  gives  the  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  the 
soil  and  subsoil  of  this  type: 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Redding  ijraveUy  sandy  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium, 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

24157 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
4.1 
5.3 

Per  cent. 
11.2 
8.0 

Per  cent. 
8.0 
5.1 

Per  cent. 
14.4 
9.2 

Per  cent. 
17.7 
24.1 

Per  cent. 
30.1 
18.9 

Per  cent. 
13.8 

24158 

Subsoil 

29.2 

COKNING    LOAM. 


The  Corning  loam,  as  typically  developed,  consists  of  a  reddish 
loam  of  slightly  sticky  character,  extending  to  a  depth  varying  from 
16  to  30  inches.  It  is  slightly  gravelly  at  times,  the  coarse  sand  and 
gravelly  material  corresponding  to  that  found  in  the  gravelly  loam 
of  the  same  series.  A  slightly  compact  structure  prevails  and  a 
mild  tendency  to  clod  and  puddle  is  noted.  A  good  condition  of 
tilth  can  be  secured,  however,  with  careful  handling  when  proper 
moisture  content  exists.  At  an  average  depth  of  about  24  inches  the 
soil  is  underlain  by  a  heavy  cla}^  loam  or  clay,  always  very  compact, 
and  showing  adobe  characters  upon  exposure.  Its  dense  structure 
is  relieved  at  times  by  the  presence  of  small  quantities  of  sand,  but 
not  sufficient  to  make  it  friable.  It  may  extend  to  a  depth  of  6 
feet.  Over  the  greater  part  of  the  type,  however,  this  refractory 
subsoil  grades  sharply  at  varying  depths  into  a  rather  compactly 
cemented  mass  of  clay,  sand,  and  small  gravel.  This  material  seems 
to  correspond  quite  closely  with  those  masses  underlying  the  soils  of 
the  Redding  series  below  the  hardpan.  The  Corning  loam  does  not 
have  a  true  hardpan,  but  plant  roots  are  practically  limited  in  all 
cases  to  the  surface  loam  and  heavy  subsoil,  as  the  partially  cemented 


26  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OK    THE   BUREAU   OF   SOILS,   1910. 

masses  above  mentioned  are  impenetrable.     A  sandy  phase,  which 
differs  somewhat  from  the  typical  soil  material,  also  occurs. 

The  Corning  loam  is  found  in  many  medium-sized  bodies  of 
rather  general  distribution  in  the  upland  plains  h'ing  west  of  the 
river.  The  type  occupies  elevations  intermediate  between  the  more 
elevated  Redding  series  and  the  slightly  lower  Tehama  and  May  wood 
series.  The  boundaries  of  its  l)0(lies  are  rather  indistinct  at  times, 
gradation  zones  occurring  between  it  and  the  other  series.  Its  sur- 
face is  gently  rolling  to  level,  with  occasional  small  cuts  or  washes 
and  a  few  local  depressions.  A  slight  tendency  to  form  hog- 
wallows  sometimes  exists.  The  ridges,  hills,  and  steep  slopes  so  gen- 
eral in  the  Corning  gi\avelly  loam  do  not  appear  in  this  type.  The 
elevation  and  slope  provide  ample  surface  drainage,  except  in  small. 
depressed  areas.  Subsoil  conditions  frequently  make  percolation 
slow,  but  in  general  the  type  may  be  called  well  drained.  It  is  natu- 
rally barren,  an  occasional  scattered  growth  of  upland  oak  being  its 
only  tree  growth. 

The  Corning  loam  is  derived  from  the  Red  Bluif  formation.  In 
some  instances  it  no  doubt  occurs  as  anciently  redeposited  porticms  of 
that  old  Pleistocene  allu\dum.  At  other  times  its  bodies  are  rem- 
nants of  the  original  formation,  the  result  of  an  irregular  erosion  and 
reworking.    It  is  an  upland  type  and  subject  to  erosion. 

The  type  is  not  extensively  cultivated.  A  few  small  areas  are  dry 
farmed  to  grain,  but  the  yields  are  light.  It  is  rather  poorly  adapted 
to  dry  farming  and  attempts  to  produce  fruit  without  irrigation  have 
met  with  practical  failure.  It  does  not  possess  a  subsoil  of  good 
water-liolding  power  and  nnist  await  irrigation  for  development  in 
all  agricultural  lines  except  grain  fanning.  At  one  time  the  Corning 
loam  was  much  more  extensively  farmed  to  grain  than  at  this  time, 
but  is  is  doubtful  whether  its  present  cultivated  area  will  be  increased 
along  any  line  until  water  is  supplied.  I^nderground  water  for 
irrigation  is  noc  available,  except  possibly  at  points  where  the  bodies 
of  lower  elevation  a])proach  the  river.  Even  here  the  great  expense 
of  securing  water  may  be  prohibitive.  The  type  could  be  irrigated 
under  an  extensive  gravity  system.  With  water  it  will  be  found 
adapted  to  peaches,  almonds,  berries,  figs,  grapes,  and  a  variety  of 
crops  which  do  not  require  a  deep,  friable  soil  and  subsoil.  Alfalfa, 
prunes,  and  some  of  the  truck  crops  will  not  be  found  as  suitable 
crops  as  those  mentioned  above.  The  tyj^e,  if  intelligently  handled 
and  devoted  to  the  proper  crops,  will  warrant  a  moderate  land  valua- 
tion and  the  cost  of  irrigation. 

Corri'niff  loam,  smuJy  phane. — The  sandy  phase  of  the  Corning  loam 
consists  of  a  reddish-gray  heavy  sandy  loam  or  light  loam  of  rather 
variable  texture.  It  usually  carries  small  quantities  of  waterworn 
gravel,   and   over   <ni;iil    areas  coarse  sand  gives   it   a   more   friable 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    RED    BLUFF    AREA,    CALIFORNLA..  27 

structure  than  the  average.  At  about  3G  inches  the  soil  grades  into 
heds  of  reworked  gravelly  material  or  rests  directly  upon  cemented 
beds  of  sandy  clay  and  waterworn  gravel  similar  to  those  underlying 
the  typical  Corning  loam,  but  of  a  more  friable  nature.  It  is  ex- 
tremely variable  in  its  subsoil.  The  surface  soil  is  usually  similar 
to  the  soils  of  the  Tehama  series,  and  where  erosion  or  deposition  of 
later  stream-borne  material  has  completely  changed  the  surface  the 
type  throughout  the  6-foot  section  approaches  the  soils  of  the  Tehama 
series,  but  the  subsoil  in  general  is  generally  of  Corning  material. 

The  sandy  phase.  Corning  loam,  usually  carries  a  scattered  growth 
of  upland  oaks  and  a  sparse  growth  of  grass.  It  is  not  farmed. 
Portions  of  it  once  produced  grain  in  small  quantities,  but  this  crop 
has  been  abandoned.  It  is  not  adapted  to  dry  farming  methods,  and 
some  attempts  to  grow  fruit  upon  it  without  irrigation  have  been 
failures.  Water  for  irrigation  is  not  to  be  secured  by  pumping. 
"\'\lien  the  type  is  irrigated  it  will  be  found  to  possess  much  the  same 
possibilities  as  the  typical  Corning  loam.  The  shallow-rooted  fruit 
crops  and  berries  will  prevail  to  the  exclusion  of  alfalfa,  prunes,  and 
apricots,  if  best  results  are  to  be  secured.  The  greater  part  of  it  will 
bear  the  expense  of  irrigation  and  will  warrant  a  moderate  valuation. 

CORNING   GRAVELLY    LOAM. 

The  Corning  gravelly  loam  consists  of  a  light-red  or  yellowish-red 
loam  of  medium  texture,  often  carrying  <]uantities  of  coarse  sand  and 
varying  proportions  of  small  angular  or  waterworn  gravel.  This 
coarse  material  is  similar  to  that  carried  by  the  Bedding  loam.  The 
type  is  boggy  when  wet  and  quite  compactly  structured  when  dry, 
though  easily  tilled  with  proper  moisture  conditions.  At  from  12  to 
20  inches  the  surface  soil  is  underlain  by  a  deep-red  compact,  hea^^ 
clay  or  clay  loam,  practically  free  from  gravel.  This  subsoil  becomes 
very  hard  and  much  cracked  when  exposed.  It  is  in  turn  underlain 
at  a  depth  from  24  to  48  inches  by  very  compact  semicemented  layers 
of  fine  waterworn  gravel,  clay,  or  beds  of  yellow  smooth-textured  silt. 

While  the  above  description  represents  the  typical  soil  column  there 
are  considerable  departures  from  it  in  different  parts  of  the  area. 
Occasionally  the  gravelly  loam  with  its  heavy  subsoil  rests  upon 
a  w^ell-defined  hardpan  layer,  making  the  type  quite  similar  to  the 
Eedding  loam.  Again  the  clay  subsoil  itself  occurs  in  a  partially 
cemented  state,  being  only  slowly  penetrated  by  water.  Normally  the 
type  does  not  have  a  distinct  hardpan  layer,  but  subsoil  conditions 
are  unfavorable.  The  partially  cemented  gravel,  silt,  or  clay  usually 
found  at  from  2  to  4  feet  below  the  surface  is  impenetrable  to  plant 
roots,  and  blasting  would  yield  small  relief.     An  average  depth  of 


28  FIELD   OPERATIONS    OF   THE   BUREAU    OF   SOILS,   1910. 

perhaps  30  inches  is  avaihible  for  phiiit  roots,  except  on  slopes  or  in 
small  areas  where  a  slight  wash  has  accumulated  a  deeper  covering. 

The  type  occurs  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  area  in  several  ex- 
tensive bodies.  Some  of  the  largest  occur  as  the  points  of  several 
ridges  jutting  into  the  area  from  the  west.  There  are  also  large 
bodies  east  of  Corning  and  Kirkwood,  rising  in  elevation  above  all 
the  surrounding  soils.  The  surface  is  usually  sharply  rolling,  eroded 
by  small  streams,  and  marked  by  a  hog-walloAv  surface.  Because  of 
its  elevated  position  it  presents  marked  contrasts  to  the  flatter  types 
of  the  surrounding  series.  It  is  usually  bounded  by  rather  abrupt 
slopes  or  terraces,  and  occasional  blutis  occur  along  stream  ways. 

The  Corning  gravelly  loam  has  a  general  surface  favoring  good 
drainage,  but  the  many  small  depressions  collect  much  water  which 
does  not  readily  escape  through  the  dense  subsurface  layers.  A  little 
leveling  will,  however,  make  the  soil  fairly  well  drained,  except  dur- 
ing periods  of  greatest  rainfall.  The  areas  are  practically  devoid  of 
trees  and  brush. 

This  type  is  derived  fi-om  material  constituting  the  Red  Blull 
formation.  Its  nearest  counterpart  in  the  soils  having  a  similar  ori- 
gins is  the  Redding  loam.  It  lacks  the  clay-iron  hardpan  of  the 
latter  soil  and  possesses  a  greater  depth  and  a  slightly  higher  agri- 
cultural value. 

The  Corning  gravelly  loam  is  at  this  time  utilized  mainly  for 
grazing.  It  is  not  capable  of  development  without  irrigation.  A 
general  knowledge  of  climatic  conditions,  with  attention  to  the  gen- 
eral character  of  this  type,  should  coiivince  anyone  of  the  futility  of 
fruit  culture  without  water.  Numerous  abandoned  orchards  bear 
evidence  of  a  hopeless  endeavor.  A  little  irrigation  by  pumping  is 
practiced  near  Corning,  but  the  type  can  be  very  meagerly  developed 
in  this  manner,  because  of  the  scarcity  of  undergi-ound  water.  It  is 
not  at  all  probable  that  the  underground  water  of  this  and  adjoining 
types  is  sufficient  to  furnish  much  irrigation  on  the  Corning  gravelly 
loam.  Its  future  extensive  development  depends  on  water  from  other 
sources.  Such  elevated  portions  as  can  not  be  covered  by  gravity 
systems  can  perhaps  be  brought  under  water  by  pumping  from  canals. 
It  may  at  some  time  be  watered  in  part  by  pumjiing  from  the  Sacra- 
mento River,  but  the  expense  seems  prohibitive  at  present. 

"Witli  irrigation  a  limited  range  of  crops  is  possil)le.  A  citrus-fruit 
industry  is  more  likely  to  be  developed  upon  this  tjqie  than  any  other 
of  the  area  because  of  air  drainage  features.  Such  trials  as  have  been 
made  show  fruit  of  good  quality.  The  climatic  conditions  are  rather 
adverse,  however,  for  citrus  fruits,  and  tlie  yields  are  low.  Peaches, 
almonds,  grapes,  olives,  and  figs  will  yield  well  with  w^ater  and  show 
a  profit  if  the  cost  of  supplying  water  does  not  prove  excessive.     It 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    EED    BLUFF    AREA,    CALIFORNIA, 


29 


Avill  always  be  expensive  to  supply  irrigation  water  for  this  type  and 
this  will  no  do'ubt  be  one  of  the  last  soils  of  the  area  to  be  completely 
developed. 

The  following  table  gives  the  average  results  of  mechanical  analy- 
ses of  the  soil  and  subsoil  of  this  type : 


Mechanical  analifscs  of  Corning  gravelly  loam. 


Number. 

Dftsmption.      gfj^|i 

Coarse     Medium, 
sand.          sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

24107,24110 

£4108,24111 

I 

1  Per  cent. 

Soil '           6.8 

Subsoil '           5. 6 

Per  cent.    Per  cent. 
13.0             7.9 
7.4              4.4 

Per  cent. 
10.1 
6.4 

Per  cent. 
8.8 
5.4 

Per  cent. 
41.4 
33.3 

Per  cent. 
11.9 
37.2 

TEHAMA   GRAVELLY  LOAM. 


The  Tehama  gravelW  loam  is  a  loam  of  medium  texture,  carries 
varying  quantities  of  waterworn  gravel,  coarse  sand,  and  angular  rock 
fragments,  and  extends  to  a  depth  of  from  18  to  72  inches.  It  varies 
in  color  from  a  yellowish  brown  to  a  reddish  gray  and  is  always  very 
compact  and  hard  upon  drying,  though  easily  tilled  under  proper 
moisture  conditions.  The  coarse  material  with  which  it  is  mingled 
corresponds  to  the  finer  and  medium-sized  fragments  of  gravel,  often 
principally  quartz,  so  prevalent  in  the  Corning  gravelly  loam,  and 
the  Redding  gravelly  sandy  loam  with  which  types  the  Tehama  soil 
is  associated  in  origin  and  in  position.  In  those  instances  where  the 
type  is  less  than  6  feet  deep,  it  is  underlain  by  a  compact  clay  loam 
or  clay  similar  to  the  subsoil  of  the  Tehama  silt  loam. 

It  occurs  as  numerous  small  bodies  of  elongated  outline  bordering 
present  intermittent  streams  or  as  terraces  or  benches  along  former 
stream  courses  somewhat  above  existing  drainage  ways.  In  the  lat- 
ter position  the  bodies  are  sometimes  slightly  uneven  from  gentle 
erosion. 

In  elevation,  age,  and  method  of  formation  this  type  compares 
Avith  the  Tehama  silt  loam,  except  that  some  of  the  bodies  of  Tehama 
gravelly  loam  occur  along  present  minor  drainage  w^ays  and  derive 
the  soil  material  as  direct  wash  from  the  higher  lying  types  of  the 
Corning  and  Redding  series.  Along  such  streams  heading  in  and 
having  their  short  courses  through  the  two  latter  series,  the  Tehama 
gravelly  loam  occurs  as  level  strips  and  gentle  slopes  of  poorly  de- 
fined outline.  It  has  the  typical  sparse  grass  vegetation  of  the  series 
and  is  likewise  treeless.     It  is  well  drained. 

A  few^  small  bodies  are  farmed  to  grain,  which  practically  consti- 
tutes the  agricultural  use  to  which  the  soil  is  given.  It  is  capable  of 
intensive  development  with  irrigation,  and  while  a  great  deal  of  it 
lies  surrounded  by  types  of  pooler  soil  there  are  bodies  of  sufficient 


30 


FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU    OF   SOILS,   1910. 


size  well  located  to  make  it  a  soil  of  great  j^ossible  value.  The  sur- 
face lends  itself  readily  to  irrigation  methods  and  its  naturall}'  well- 
drained  character  will  make  it,  in  all  but  its  most  gravelly  phases, 
an  important  factor  in  the  success  of  any  irrigation  enterprise. 
Peaches,  berries,  almonds,  apricots,  and  other  crops,  including  melons 
and  alfalfa,  will  thrive  on  this  soil,  which  needs  only  a  slightly 
greater  application  of  water  than  the  Tehama  silt  loam.  Intensive, 
small  fann  industries  are  not  jx)s.<ible  without  irrigation. 

The  following  table  gives  the  average  results  of  mechanical  analj^ses 
of  the  soil  and  a  single  analysis  of  the  subsoil  of  this  type : 

Mechanicdl  analyses  of  Tehama  gravelly  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine       cnt 
saiid.          ^'"- 

Clay. 

24174,24170 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
5.2 
1.5 

Per  cent. 
6.0 
2.1 

Per  cent. 
3.3 

1.8 

Per  cent. 
8.9 
6.7 

Per  cent. 
26.6 
28.0 

Per  cent. 
38.3 
32.1 

Per  ctnl. 
12.5 

24175 

Subsoil 

27.3 

TEHAMA     SILT    LOAM. 

The  Tehama  silt  loam  is  one  of  the  most  important  types  of  the 
area.  It  is  a  comparatively  uniform  type  in  its  principal  character- 
istics. The  soil  consists  of  a  compact  yellowish-brown  or  reddish- 
yellow  silt  loam,  with  a  depth  varying  from  10  to  20  inches.  In 
limited  areas  the  surface  soil  is  gritty  or  even  gravelly,  being  at  such 
times  influenced  by  present  washes  or  indistinct  long-abandoned 
drainage  ways,  slightly  elevated  by  the  deposition  of  material  and 
now  shown  only  by  meandering  streaks  of  gravelly  soil.  The  sub- 
soil, also  fairly  uniform,  is  a  tenacious  brown  silty  clay  loam  of 
impervious  structure  to  G  feet  deep.  The  material  cracks  upon  ex- 
posure and  has  an  adobe  tendency.  When  variation  occurs  in  the 
subsoil  it  is  found  to  accompany  the  change  in  the  surface  soil  occa- 
sioned by  the  slight  rew^orking  by  water.  In  these  cases  the  subsoil 
in  small  areas  may  be  quite  gravelly.  Extensive  beds  of  compact 
silt,  sand,  and  gravel  usually  underly  this  type  below  6  feet. 

In  its  occurrence  the  Tehama  silt  loam  uniformly  occupies  eleva- 
tions slightly  below  the  Kcdding  and  Corning  series,  being  in  most 
cases  separated  from  them  by  pronounced  slopes  or  terraces  of  sev- 
eral feet.  From  the  lower  lying  soils  of  the  Maywood,  Elder,  and 
Sacramento  series  it  is  again  separated  by  terraces,  often  pronounced, 
along  the  alluvial  flood  plain  of  the  Sacramento  River.  Practically 
confined  to  the  west  side  of  the  river  and  occupying  regions  of  inter- 
mediate elcviition.  tlie  type  occurs  as  almost  uniform  plains  of  gentle 
slope  and  barren  character,  except  for  a  very  sparse  growth  of  grass 
and  a  few  trees  along  small  streams  and  the  lower  terrace  lines.    Its 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    RED    BLUFF   AREA,    CALIFORiSTIA.  31 

general  surface  is  not  level,  being  marked  by  minor  drainage  ways 
through  the  main  bodies  and  slightly  dissected  at  terrace  lines.  The 
type  at  the  seasons  of  greatest  rainfall  suffers  from  poor  drainage. 
Over  almost  the  entire  surface  occur  small  minor  depressions  without 
outlet,  oftentimes  giving  the  appearance  of  a  hog-wallow  topog- 
raphy. With  a  heavy  burden  of  surface  water  completely  saturating 
the  soil  and  filling  the  small  depressions,  this  condition  is  still  further 
aggravated  by  a  j^uddling  tendency  of  the  soil  and  the  impervious 
nature  of  the  subsoil.  Altogether  it  is  a  somewhat  difficult  soil  to 
handle  extensively  in  grain  farming. 

In  origin  this  soil  type  is  more  recent  than  the  Redding  and  Corn- 
ing series,  as  is  evidenced  by  their  relative  positions  and  occurrences, 
small  knolls  and  ridges  of  both  series  sometimes  lying  within  the 
areas  of  the  Tehama  silt  loam  as  remnants  of  the  older  series. 

An  instance  of  this  may  be  observed  south  of  Redbanlv  Creek  be- 
tween the  main  line  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  and  the  Corn- 
ing road  running  south  from  Red  Bluff.  In  this  case  an  isolated 
area  of  Redding  loam,  representing  an  undisturbed  body  of  the  Red 
Bluff  formation,  was  entirely  surrounded  by  soils  of  more  recent 
formation. 

The  Tehama  silt  loam  is  not  normally  underlain  by  hardpan,  but 
in  a  very  few  instances  hardpan  and  cemented  layers  common  to 
other  nearby  types  may  lie  within  6  feet  of  the  surface. 

When  grain  production  was  at  its  height  this  type  was  nearly  all 
utilized  and  returned  profitable  yields  despite  its  puddled  and  poorly 
drained  conditions  before  mentioned.  The  type  has  suffered  de- 
creased yields  in  common  with  all  the  plains  and  upland  types  until 
at  this  time  it  is  not  extensively  farmed.  A  paying  crop  of  grain 
can  be  secured  about  every  third  or  fourth  year  by  summer  fallowing, 
if  favorable  moisture  conditions  prevail.  In  this  uncommon  case  a 
minimum  rainfall  is  most  favorable. 

The  more  extensive  utilization  of  this  type  depends  entirely  on 
irrigation.  It  is  not  adapted  to  fruit,  berry,  or  alfalfa  culture  under 
dry-farming  methods,  and  while  partial  success  may  be  attained  on 
the  better  areas,  little  can  be  done  upon  those  large  typical  areas, 
such  as  that  surrounding  Rawson.  This  type,  as  mapped,  can  be 
relied  upon  to  yield  good  returns  under  irrigation,  and,  consider- 
ing its  area,  will  contribute  to  the  success  of  anj^  large  irrigation 
enterprise  supplying  water  at  even  more  than  average  cost.  The 
features  which  now  render  the  soil  hard  to  handle  in  grain,  namely, 
poor  drainage  and  baking,  will  not  be  found  to  retard  its  irrigation 
developments  materially.  A  slight  leveling  of  the  surface  and  the 
formation  of  a  few  drains  to  carry  off  surface  water  can  be  accom- 
plished in  small  tracts  and  at  a  slight  expense.  This  would  not, 
however,  be  justified  by  its  returns  as  a  grain  soil. 


32 


FIELD   OPERATIOXS   OF   THE   BUREAU    OF   SOILS,   1910. 


This  is  a  better  soil  as  letrards  its  present  utilization  than  the  other 
types  of  the  same  -ories.  It  will  be  found  to  surpass  them  in  its 
capacity  for  irrigation  development  and  in  its  adaptation  to  general 
farm  crops  as  well  as  grapes,  the  stone  fruits,  and  alfalfa.  In  com- 
mon with  the  other  plains  soils  of  the  west  side,  extensive  irrigation 
can  only  be  had  by  a  comprehensive  gravity  system,  supplied  by 
storage  of  the  flood  waters  of  the  west-side  tributaries  or  by  diversion 
from  the  main  river  at  some  point  at  a  distance  from  the  area. 
Tuderground  water  for  pumping  is  not  available  in  sufficient  quan- 
tities or  at  a  cost  commensurate  with  the  supply,  anii  the  elevation  of 
the  areas  does  not  ai)pear  to  allow  extensive  watering  by  pumping 
from  the  Sacramento  Kivcr, 

The  following  table  gives  the  average  results  of  mechanical  analyses 
of  the  soil  and  subsoil  of  this  type: 

Mechanical  anali/.'ics  of  Tehama  silt  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Vervfine       o-it 
sand.          ^"^• 

Clay. 

24108  24170 

Soil 

Per  cent. 

0.5 

.0 

Per  cent. 
1.2 
.5 

Per  cent. 
1.7 
.8 

Per  cent. 
8.2 
6.3 

Per  cent. 
17.7 
23.1 

Per  cent. 
57.1 
47.6 

Per  cent. 
13.4 

24169,24171 

Si.bsoil 

21.4 

TEHAMA    CLAY. 


The  Tehama  clay  constitutes  the  heaviest  and  most  refractory  mem- 
ber of  the  Tehama  series.  Typically  it  consists  of  a  compact  clay 
ranging  from  a  light  grayish  brown  to  yellowish  brown  in  color  and 
extending  to  a  depth  of  HO  to  48  inches.  When  wet  this  soil  is  very 
.-sticky.  I'xhiljiting  the  tendency  of  the  adobes  to  adhere  to  vehicles 
or  implements.  Upon  drying  it  soon  acquires  a  hard,  impenetrable 
.structure,  cracks  and  checks.  It  is  of  poor  tilth  througliout.  In 
nearly  all  cases  below  this  mantle  of  soil  will  be  found  a  hard,  im- 
jjenetrable  layer  of  varying  character,  but  in  all  cases  defined  as  a 
i-(Miinant  of  the  undei'lyiiig  material  of  the  Redding  or  Corning  series. 
In  >ome  cases  the  dei)osition  of  the  Tehama  clay  has  occurred  directly 
iij)()ii  the  true  hardpan  of  these  series,  but  usually  the  older  series 
iiave  Ix'cn  siiflicieiitly  ei'oded  to  bring  the  less  solidly  cemented  sands 
and  gravels  of  their  underlying  strata  next  to  the  clay. 

This  type  occurs  in  .several  elongated  and  slightly  depressed  bodies, 
usually  wheie  the  Tehama  silt  loam  joins  the  Redding  or  Corning 
series.  It  ^-ometimes  occupies  small  areas  between  remnants  of  Red- 
ding loam  bodies,  is  always  poorly  drained  during  the  rainy  season, 
ii-regiilarly  defined,  and  of  small  importance.  The  surface  is  tree- 
les.■^  and  gently  slojiing  to  flat.  ex(ej)t  for  an  occasional  meandering 
depression,  usually  subject  to  the  accumulation  of  drainage  water 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    RED    BLUFF    AREA,    CALIFORNIA. 


33 


from  higher  lying  soils.  The  type  o-wes  its  origin  to  the  finer  ma- 
terial deposited  in  this  manner,  and  in  some  cases  the  process  still 
slowl}^  continues. 

At  one  time  the  Tehama  clay  contributed  to  the  grain  production 
of  the  area,  but  it  has  fallen  into  disuse  for  reasons  common  to  the 
other  types  surrounding  it,  and  at  this  time  furnishes  grazing  only. 
At  all  times  it  will  remain  a  soil  of  secondary  agricidtural  worth, 
but  under  irrigation,  with  careful,  intelligent  handling,  it  can  be  de- 
veloped into  a  profitable  producer  of  small  fruit  and  even  of  alfalfa 
upon  its  deeper  phases. 

The  following  table  gives  the  average  results  of  mechanical 
analyses  of  the  soil  of  this  type : 

Meclianicol  analyses  of  Tehama  clay. 


Xuniher. 

Dascription. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium, 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

24172,24173 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
2.1 

Per  cent. 
2.0 

Per  cent. 
1.8 

Per  cent. 
4.9 

Per  cent. 
18.5 

Per  cent. 
34.9 

Per  cent. 
35.5 

MAYWOOD    LOAM. 


The  Maywood  loam  is  subject  to  considerable  minor  variation. 
Typically  it  consists  of  a  light-grayish  or  yellowish-gray  loam  of  a 
rather  smooth  silty  texture.  It  is  at  all  times  moderately  friable  and 
easy  to  cultivate.  There  are  frequent  areas  of  a  somewhat  gritty, 
coarse  texture.  Other  bodies  of  the  opposite  tendency  occur  along 
the  intermittent  streams,  the  texture  here  approaching  a  silt  loam. 
This  loam,  in  limited  areas,  extends  to  a  depth  of  0  feet,  but  in  nearl}' 
all  cases  is  underlain  at  from  24  to  30  inches  by  a  yellowish  clay 
loam  or  silty  clay  loam.  The  subsoil,  although  quite  compact,  is  much 
more  permeable  to  plant  roots  and  water  than  the  clay  loam  subsoil 
of  the  Tehama  silt  loam.  It  has  a  somewhat  flocculated  structure 
and  bears  evidence  of  having  been  reworked  b}'  water  to  varying  ex- 
tents. In  power  to  hold  water  and  in  adaptation  to  dry-farming 
methods  it  is  a  much  better  subsoil  than  that  underlying  the  Tehama 
silt  loam.  Gravel  beds  may  be  encountered  at  a  depth  of  about  G 
feet  along  sites  of  ancient  stream  ways  or  in  the  vicinity  of  present 
^va.-hes.  Larger  tracts  have  a  subsoil  extending  to  dej)ths  of  many 
feet. 

The  Maywood  loam  occupies  some  rather  extensive  bodies  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  the  area.  The  country  south  and  west  of 
Corning  for  several  miles  is  occupied  largely  by  this  type,  broken  by 
patches  and  streaks  of  related  soils. 

This  type  has  a  very  uniform  surface,  being  smooth  and  conform- 
ing to  the  general  regional  slope,  amounting  to  something  less  than 


34  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU    OF    SOILS,   1910. 

20  feet  to  the  mile.  It  is  not  so  frequently  marked  by  local  mounds 
or  depressions  as  the  Tehama  silt  loam.  Practically  the  only  varia- 
tion in  topography  within  the  main  bodies  of  this  type  is  occasioned 
by  the  presence  of  many  minor  washes.  These  are  only  3  or  4  feet 
deep,  narrow  and  winding,  with  gravelly  or  sandy  beds.  During  the 
wet  season  they  carry  much  water,  but  rarely  overflow.  None  are 
perennial  in  character.  Aside  from  these  Avashes,  which  are  the 
present  drainage  ways,  there  are  remnants  of  older  ones  of  their 
kind,  faintly  traceable  over  the  general  surface  of  the  soil.  Such 
abandoned  waterways  have  in  some  cases  been  responsible  for  the 
lighter,  slightly  gravelly  phases  which  occur  in  the  type.  The  divid- 
ing lines  between  this  soil  and  the  Corning  series  are  quite  distinct, 
occuring  at  marked  differences  in  elevation.  The  Corning  types 
usually  rise  in  elevation  several  feet  above  the  Maywood  loam. 
Gradations  always  prevail  at  the  points  of  contact  between  this 
type  and  others  of  the  same  and  of  the  Tehama  series.  The  drainage 
of  the  type  is  excellent,  being  neither  excessive  nor  restricted. 

The  Maywood  loam  in  origin  is  very  closely  associated  with  the 
Tehama  silt  loam.  It  appears  that  the  latter  type  has  been  subjected 
to  irregular  erosion  and  redeposition  by  many  meandering  streams 
now  evidenced  by  nearly  filled,  abandoned  channels.  This  has  given 
rise  to  the  somewdiat  reworked  variable  material  classed  as  the  type 
in  question.  Such  an  origin  must  of  course  give  rise  to  a  soil  of  some- 
what irregular  character,  depending  upon  the  degree  of  erosion  and 
recovering. 

The  Maywood  loam  is  treeless,  but  a  fringe  of  willow  and  cotton- 
wood,  with  some  brush,  is  usually  found  in  the  beds  of  the  waterways. 
A  better  growth  of  native  grasses  is  found  upon  uncultivated  portions 
than  upon  the  Tehama  silt  loam. 

Tlie  Maywood  loam  was  all  farmed  to  grain  years  ago,  when  grain 
farming  so  thoroughly  occupied  the  soils  of  the  area.  Decreased 
yields  led  to  the  practical  abandonment  of  the  soil  for  this  purpose. 
Since  that  time  great  numbers  of  small  orchards  have  been  planted 
and  an  endeavor  has  l)een  made  to  make  this  a  dry-farmed  fruit  soil. 
Peaches,  pears,  figs,  olives,  primes,  and  almonds  have  been  planted 
and  tended  with  varying  degrees  of  success.  Many  orchards  were 
iibandoned' soon  after  planting;  others  were  brought  to  maturity  by 
indifferent  methods,  to  be  then  abandoned.  Principal  among  the 
causes  for  such  discouraging  results  were  the  attempts  made  by  non- 
resident landowners  to  plant  and  care  for  orchards  by  contract. 
There  are  scattering  orchards  located  upon  the  most  favorable  portions 
of  the  type  whicli  have  been  handled  by  careful  methods  and  thorougli 
cultivation.  They  show  better  results  in  the  type  of  trees  and  fruit 
produced.  Some  of  these  orchards  have  been  made  profitable.  Amid 
such  a  mass  of  varied  results  a  few  facts  have  become  apparent.     If 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    RED    BLUFF    AREA,    CALIFORNIA. 


35 


the  Maywood  loam  is  to  produce  dry-farmed  fruit  profitably  it  can 
only  be  by  use  of  the  most  careful  methods  upon  its  best  phases. 
"IVhile  the  type  is  fairly  well  adapted  to  dry-farming  methods,  the 
long  dry  summer  severely  taxes  the  capacities  of  the  best  adapted  soils 
to  produce  fruit  without  irrigation.  Certain  failure  faces  every  care- 
less or  incompetent  effort.  Figs,  almonds,  and  olives  seem  to  be  most 
resistant  to  weather  conditions  upon  this  type  when  abandoned.  An 
excellent  quality  of  peaches  for  both  canning  and  drying  is  produced 
upon  this  soil.  Profits  must  always  remain  rather  meager  as  long  as 
the  type  remains  unirrigated. 

Some  water  is  available  for  pumping,  but  can  never  be  secured  in 
sufficient  quantities  to  irrigate  any  large  part  of  the  type.  Such 
water  as  has  been  developed  in  this  way  gives  good  results  and  abun- 
dantly proves  the  high  value  of  the  soil  under  irrigation.  It  is  thor- 
oughly adapted  to  irrigation,  and  a  very  wide  range  of  crops  can  be 
grown  upon  it  whenever  water  is  applied.  The  entire  area  occupied 
by  it  is  irrigable  and  can  be  broken  up  in  small  farms  once  water  is 
available.  Twenty  acres  is  amply  sufficient  for  an  average  family 
when  irrigated  in  the  best  manner.  All  the  crops  suited  to  the  cli- 
mate are  possible,  and  it  is  sufficiently  productive  to  justify  a  high 
water  tax. 

Mechanical  nnalj/ses  of  Mayivood  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Meiium 
sand. 

Fine     i  Very  fine 
sand.     1     sand. 

1 

Silt. 

Clay. 

24122 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
1.2 
1.3 

Per  cent. 
2.4 
2.2 

Per  cent.  '  Per  cent.    Per  cent. 
2.8  1          13.1            19.3 
3.  1              1?!-n  :           28.1 

Per  cent. 
47.2 
29.  .5 

Per  cent. 
13.5 

24123 

Subsoil 

22.8 

MAY  WOOD    FINE    SANDY    LOAM. 


The  Maywood  fine  sandy  loam  consists  of  a  yellowish-gray  fine 
sandy  loam,  appearing  when  under  cultivation  as  a  rather  light-tex- 
tured loam.  It  is  very  friable  in  structure  and  usually  carries  mod- 
erate quantities  of  water  worn  gravel.  The  type  does  not  puddle  or 
crack  and  possesses  nothing  to  interfere  with  a  natural  good  tilth  and 
ease  of  cultivation.  The  surface  soil  grades  at  from  24  to  30  inches 
into  an  indefinite  subsoil.  This  is  usually  either  loam  or  gravelly 
loam,  but  in  exceptional  cases  may  be  composed  of  gravel  beds  or 
light-textured  clay  loams.  At  no  place  do  cemented  layers  or  a  true 
hardpan  appear. 

This  type  occurs  in  the  west-central  portion  of  the  area,  being  en- 
tirely a  west-side  type.  Its  narrow  bodies  border  some  of  the  small 
stream  ways  as  distinct  areas  of  reworked  material  or  strips  of 
alluvial  bottom.     The  surface  is  usually  level,  but  marked  by  the 


36 


FIELD    OPERATIONS    OF    THE    BUREAU    OF    SOILS,    1910. 


shallow  Avindinir  lied  of  the  local  waterway  or  its  partially  filled 
older  channels.  Terraces  irenei-ally  separate  the  type  from  the  Red- 
ding and  Corning  loams  and  the  Tehama  silt  loam,  but  in  the  case  of 
the  latter  t^pe  gradation  zones  frequently  occur.  Its  contact  with 
the  Maywood  silt  loam  and  the  Sacramento  series  is  marked  by  slow 
transitions.     It  is  at  all  times  excellently  drained. 

The  ISIaywood  fine  sandy  loam  is  composed  of  wash  derived  irom 
the  Kedding  and  Tehama  .series  and  transported  short  distances.  Its 
formation  has  been  slow  and  irregular,  at  times  the  result  of  a  re- 
working of  the  Tehama  silt  loam  with  additions  of  fresh  material.  A 
few  valley  oaks  sometimes  appear  on  this  type,  and  a  rather  luxuri- 
ant growth  of  wild  oats  and  native  grasses  cover  it  in  the  rainy  sea- 
son. ]\Iost  of  the  type  has  been  farmed  to  grain  for  many  years  and, 
while  yields  have  decreased,  the  practice  continues.  A  few  dry- 
farmed  orchards  are  located  upon  it,  but  the  yields  are  small. 

Rapid  development  of  this  type  must  await  irrigation,  for  Avhicli 
it  is  admiral)ly  suited.  Practically  its  entire  area  is  irrigable  and 
suited  for  alfalfa.  i)eaches,  prunes,  apricots,  and  other  fruits,  as  well 
as  melons  and  many  truck  crops.  Water  alone  is  needed  to  trans- 
form this  type  into  one  of  small  farms  and  intensive  cultivation. 
Unfortunatel}-,  as  with  many  of  the  other  types,  it  does  not  appear 
to  possess  subsurface  water  in  quantities  sufficient  for  irrigation.  Its 
development  tlierefore  depends  upon  the  installation  of  comprehen- 
sive gravity  .systems. 

The  following  table  gives  the  average  results  of  mechanical  analy- 
ses of  the  soil  and  of  a  single  analysis  of  the  subsoil  of  this  type : 

Mcrhtinicdl  (ni<ilijfic.'<  of  Maywood  fine  sandy  loam. 


Number. 

Doscrlption. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Slit. 

Clay. 

24127  24129 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
1.8 
.0 

Per  cent. 

2.6 

.2 

Per  cent. 

2.7 

.2 

Per  cent. 
15.1 
5.2 

Per  cent. 
37.4 
24.7 

Per  cent. 
30.4 
49.6 

Per  cent. 
9  6 

24128 

Subsoil 

19.8 

M.WWOOI)    (iKAVELLY    SANUY    LOAM. 


The  Maywood  graM-lly  sandy  loam  consists  of  a  grayish-brown 
sandy  loam  of  varying  character,  carrying  moderate  to  excessive 
quantities  of  walcrworu  gravel  and  coarse  sand.  It  is  sometimes 
rather  leachy  and  poious  in  character  and  usually  G  feet  deep.  The 
(yj)e  may  be  underlain  at  uncertain  depths  below  18  inches  l)y 
gravelly  beds  of  coar.se,  incoherent  structure  or  by  a  clay  loam 
( loscly  resembling  that  of  the  Maywood  loam.  This  soil  is  easy  to 
cultivate  at  all  times  but  occa.sionally  puddles  slightly  during  the 
rainy  periods. 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    EED    BLLTFF    AREA,    CALIFORNIA, 


37 


Numerous  small  bodies  of  the  Maywood  gravelly  sandy  loam 
occur  in  the  western  part  of  the  area,  usually  bordering  the  smaller 
intermittent  stream  ways  and  not  much  elevated  above  them.  The 
surface  is  usually  level,  the  only  variation  being  the  small  stream 
channels  of  the  locality.  The  boundaries  between  this  type  and  the 
Tehama  gravelly  loam  and  other  types  are  often  indistinct.  It  is 
at  all  times  well  drained.  No  tree  grow^th  occurs  except  in  the 
stream  channels,  where  an  occasional  cottonwood  or  willow  is  found. 

The  Maj^wood  gravelly  sandy  loam  is  an  alluvial  soil  formed 
from  materials  derived  largely  from  the  Tehama  and  Redding  series. 
It  occurs  in  the  zone  of  present  stream  ways,  and  is  quite  similar  to 
the  Tehama  gravelly  loam  in  some  of  its  phases. 

Some  grain  is  grown  upon  the  type,  and  with  good  care  a  few  dry- 
farmed  orchards  of  peaches  have  been  brought  to  bearing.  It  re- 
quires irrigation,  however,  to  insure  extensive  development.  Small 
quantities  of  underground  water  for  irrigation  can  be  secured  by 
pumping,  but  the  supply  is  insufficient.  With  a  gravity  system  this 
type  will  be  found  admirably  suited  to  irrigation.  Practically  all  of 
the  type  is  irrigable.  It  is  well  adapted  to  olives,  peaches,  alfalfa, 
and  a  great  variety  of  crops. 

The  following  table  gives  the  average  results  of  mechanical  analy- 
ses of  the  soil  of  this  type : 

MechanicdJ  analysis  of  Maijirood  gravcJUj  sanOij  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
piavpl. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
.sand. 

S:lt. 

Clay. 

24134,24135 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
12.9 

Pa  cent. 
11.8 

Per  cent. 

0.2 

Per  cent. 
15.9 

Per  cent. 
12.7 

Per  cent. 
31.  0 

Per  cent. 

8.G 

MAYWOOD    SILT    LOAM. 


The  Maywood  silt  loam  consi.sts  of  a  yellowish  or  yellowish-gray, 
smooth  textured  soil,  usually  quite  compact  and  sticky  w^hen  wet,  yet 
friable  when  properly  handled.  It  is  very  uniform  in  texture,  with 
but  little  or  no  coarser  material,  such  as  gravel.  At  from  30  to  36 
inches  the  silt  loam  grades  into  a  very  compact  silty  clay  loam  or 
silty  loam  of  great  water-holding  capacity.  This  in  turn  may  be 
underlain  at  about  6  feet  by  gravel  beds  or  may  extend  with  little 
variation  to  great  depths. 

This  type  is  confined  to  several  medium-sized  bodies  along  the 
minor  west  side  streams,  or  as  bodies  deposited  bj'^  these  streams  where 
they  leave  their  small  valleys  and  emerge  into  the  alluvial  plain  of 
the  Sacramento.  The  surface  is  level  and  very  uniform.  Drainage 
is  adequate  over  most  of  the  type. 


38 


FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU    OF   SOILS,   1910. 


The  Maywood  silt  loaiu  is  alluvial  in  origin.  The  small  streams 
alon^  which  it  lies  have  built  this  soil  from  material  lar<!:ely  derived 
from  the  Tehama  silt  loam  and  the  soils  of  the  Reddiiiij  series.  The 
outer  boundaries  are  indistinct  at  points  where  the  type  merges  into 
the  floor  of  the  Sacramento  Valley. 

The  valley  oak  grows  upon  some  portions  of  this  type,  and  this 
with  a  few  willows  forms  the  tree  growth.  A  better  than  average 
growth  of  grass  also  occurs,  uncultivated  areas  affording  good  pas- 
turage. 

There  are  several  good  orchards  on  the  Maywood  silt  loam,  grown 
without  irrigation,  and  producing  fair  returns.  There  are  also  sev- 
eral fields  of  dry-farmed  alfalfa  producing  profitable  crops.  It  is 
one  of  the  best  soils  of  the  area  for  dry  farming  and  some  develop- 
ment can  be  hoped  for  upon  this  type  without  irrigation,  if  very 
thorough  cultivation  is  resorted  to  in  order  to  conserve  the  moisture. 
The  whole  type  is  irrigable  and  well  adapted  to  a  wide  range  of 
irrigated  crops.  All  the  fruits  of  this  section,  as  well  as  alfalfa, 
will  yield  well  and  justify'  a  moderately  heavy  tax  for  irrigation 
purposes. 

The  following  table  gives  the  average  results  of  mechanical  analy- 
ses of  the  soil  and  subsoil  of  this  type: 

Mechanical  analijscs  of  Maywood  .'<Ut  loom. 


Number. 

Doscription. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coar^io 
sand. 

Medinni. 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

24130, 24132 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
1.6 
1.3 

Per  cent. 
2.2 

2.1 

Per  cent. 
1.9 
1.9 

Per  cent. 
9.5 
0.4 

Per  cent. 
11.3 
19.9 

Per  cent. 
57.3 

48.6 

Per  cera. 
15.9 

24131,24133 

Subsoil 

19.4 

M.VYWOOD    SILTY    CLAY   LOAM. 


The  soil  of  the  Mayw^ood  silty  clay  loam  consists  of  a  very  smooth 
textured  gray  silty  clay  loam,  very  compact,  which  cracks  upon  dry- 
ing, being  rather  refractor}'  under  such  conditions.  This  material 
extends  to  a  depth  of  0  feet,  with  the  single  variation  that  it  is  occa- 
sionally found  with  a  lighter  colored  subsoil.  It  is  free  from  coarse 
sand  and  gravel.  The  type  is  but  fairly  easy  to  cultivate,  its  heavy 
character  and  puddling  tendenc}^  preventing  the  best  of  tilth. 

Only  twf>  or  ilircc  small  bodies  of  this  type  were  encountered,  all 
on  the  w('>t  side  (»f  (he  river,  the  largest  being  near  Corning.  Its 
small  extent  makes  it  an  unimportant  type.  ,The  surface  is  usually 
flat  and  surface  water  escapes  slowly. 

The  Maywood  silty  clay  loam  is  a  redeposited  product  derived 
from  the  'I'ehania  soils  in  much  the  same  manner  as  the  Tehama  clay 


SOIL    SUEVEY    OF    THE    RED    BLUFF   AEEA,    CALIFORNIA. 


39 


was  formed  from  other  types.  Intermittent  streams  have  accumu- 
lated this  type  by  gradual  wash,  and  it  grades  rather  imperceptibly 
into  some  of  the  other  types  of  the  same  elevation. 

About  50  i^er  cent  of  this  inextensive  soil  is  devoted  to  pears,  figs, 
peaches,  and  alfalfa,  the  remainder  being  grazing  land.  A  little 
irrigation  is  practiced  by  pumping,  and  results  give  evidence  of  a 
natural  fertility  and  adaptation  to  irrigated  crops  of  the  region. 
"With  more  extensive  watering  its  whole  area  will  be  found  capable 
of  intensive  development.  Alfalfa  and  practically  all  the  fruits  of 
the  area  are  possible.  Pears  maj^  be  found  very  well  adapted  to 
this  soil.  It  can  not  be  made  to  produce  maximum  yields  without 
irrigation  and  the  profits  derived  from  it  at  present  are  meager. 
Only  small  quantities  of  water  are  available  for  pumping,  and  its 
development  will  depend  upon  irrigation  with  water  drawn  from 
distant  sources. 

The  following  table  gives  the  results  of  a  mechanical  analysis  of 
the  soil  of  this  type '. 

Mechanical  analyfiis  of  Mayicood  siliii  clay  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Mefliiim 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

24136  

Soil 

Per  cent. 
0.4 

Per  cent. 
1.0 

Per  cent. 
1.4 

Per  cent. 
6.8 

Per  cent. 
8.5 

Per  cent. 

58.5 

Per  cent. 
22  9 

KIKKWOOD    SILTY    CLAY    ADODE. 


The  Kirkwood  silty  clay  adobe  consists  of  a  dark-gray  to  almost 
black  silty  claj'  or  heavj^  silt}"  clay  loam  of  smooth,  very  sticky  texture. 
It  at  all  times  possesses  an  adobe  structure,  cracking  into  huge  blocks, 
which  are  subsequently  checked  and  subdivided  into  small  cubes  or 
angular  fragments.  The  type  is  puddled  and  miry  when  wet  and 
exceedingly  hard  and  compact  when  dry,  rendering  it  a  soil  of  poor 
tilth  and  refractory  character.  It  is  usually  6  feet  deep.  The  subsoil 
is  occasionally  a  lighter  textured,  slightly  more  friable  clay  loam, 
but  not  of  sufficient  thickness  to  modify  the  soil.  A  small  content  of 
waterworn  gravel  is  occasionally  found.  In  some  places  the  cemented 
clay,  sand,  and  fine  gravel  of  the  contiguous  Corning  gravelly  loam 
underlies  the  type  at  depths  below  5i  inches. 

This  type  occupies  several  relatively  small  bodies  partially  sur- 
rounded by  or  closely  associated  with  the  Corning  gravelly  loam. 
Its  surface  is  level  to  gently  sloping,  and  the  areas  are  quite  dis- 
tinctly separated  from  the  Corning  gravelly  loam  by  terraces  or  steep 
banks.  The  surface  drainage  is  rather  good,  despite  the  fact  that  the 
type  often  receives  run-off  from  the  higher  soils.     A  water-logged 


40 


FIELD    OPERATIONS    OF    THE    BUREAU    OF    SOILS,    1910. 


condition  sometimes  prevails  for  short  periods,  owino;  to  the  diffi- 
culty with  which  water  percolates  through  the  soil. 

The  Kirkwood  silty  clay  adobe  is  quite  different  in  texture  and 
structure  from  the  numerous  types  derived  from  the  Red  Bluff  for- 
mation. It  is  probable,  however,  that  it  is  derived  from  the  same  or 
kindred  materials,  its  elevation  and  location  bearing  out  such  a  con- 
clusion. It  is  treeless,  but  supports  a  heavy  growth  of  wild  oats  and 
other  grasses. 

The  tj'pe  is  partly  devoted  to  grain  farming,  good  yields  being 
secured.  Fruit  culture  is  hardly  possible  without  irrigation.  All  of 
this  inextensive  type  is  capable  of  development  where  irrigation 
water  is  provided.  Underground  water  is  not  available,  and  it  must 
be  irrigated  by  the  same  methods  as  the  surrounding  types.  It  is 
believed  that  pears,  alfalfa,  and  a  variety  of  fruit  crops  will  be  well 
adapted  to  this  type.  Its  poor  tilth  will  be  much  improved  under 
cultivation. 

The  following  table  gives  the  average  results  of  mechanical  analy- 
ses of  the  soil  of  this  type : 

Mechanicul  analyses  of  Kirkwood  silti/  clan  adohr. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium, 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

("lay. 

24113,  24U4. 

Soil. 

Per  Cfjit. 
1.1 

Per  cent. 

1.7 

Per  cent. 
1.0 

Per  cent. 
4.0 

Per  cent. 
fi.O 

Per  cent. 
52.1 

Per  cent. 
33.4 

The  followin;;  sample  contained  more  than  one-half  of  i  per  cent  calcium  carbonate 
{CaCOs)  :   No.  2411:],  .5.13  per  cent. 

TU.SCAN    STONY    SANDY    I.OAM. 

The  surface  soil  of  the  Tuscan  stony  sandy  loam  consists  of  from 
3  to  12  inches  of  reddish  or  reddish-brown  sandy  loam,  slightly 
sticky  and  rather  compact.  Everywhere  over  the  surface  are  quanti- 
ties of  rounded  bowlders,  occurring  as  an  irregular,  scattered  cover- 
ing or  as  numerous  meandering  strips,  occupying  the  bottoms  of 
.shallow  depressions.  These  loose  stones,  all  of  volcanic  origin,  range 
ill  size  from  8  to  14  inches  in  diameter.  In  their  disintegration  they 
fill  the  soil  material  with  quantities  of  small-sized  subangular  frag- 
ments. This  shallow  mantle  of  stony  loam,  usually  of  a  sandy  na- 
ture. iej)re.sents  the  total  depth  available  for  agriculture.  It  is 
immediately  underlain  by  masses  of  cemented  waterworn  gravel, 
sometimes  roughly  assorted  and  interstratified  with  beds  of  fine-tex- 
lured  gray  material,  some  of  them  Ijeing  tufaceous,  but  most  of  them 
being  gray  sand  derived  from  volcanic  rocks  of  various  kinds.  Nu- 
merous exposures  bear  out  the  great  depth  and  uniformity  of  this 
material.  The  soil  is  often  eroded  over  considerable  areas,  exposing 
these  indurated  beds  with  but  a  thin  irregular  covering. 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    RED    BLUFF    AREA,    CALIFORNIA. 


41 


The  Tuscan  stony  sandj^  loam  covers  a  considerable  extent  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  area  and  is  locally  known  as  "  lava  flows."  The 
l^lains  which  it  occupies  usually  border  the  Sacramento  and  Vina 
series,  distinct  bluffs  or  terraces  interA^ening.  Abrupt  ascents  again 
separate  it  from  the  Rough  stony  land.  The  surface  of  the  region 
occupied  by  this  type  once  occurred  as  an  unbroken  plain  but  now 
is  somewhat  diversified  by  stream  ways  with  a  general  slope  toward 
the  river  trough  of  about  50  or  60  feet  to  the  mile.  It  is  entirely 
treeless,  except  along  these  small  canyons,  and  in  fact  supports 
nothing  but  a  scant  growth  of  grass  suitable  only  for  sheep. 

It  consists  in  part  of  residual  material  and,  in  places,  of  reworked 
stream-deposited  material.  The  surface  soil  is  no  doubt  largely  a 
secondary  residual  material — the  disintegrated  product  of  the  great 
quantities  of  bowlders  and  finer  material  previously  mentioned. 

This  soil  is  a  nonagricultural  type.  The  very  shallow  depths 
available  for  plant  roots,  coupled  with  the  unfavorable  subsoil  con- 
dition, makes  it  the  jjoorest  type  of  the  area.  It  is  hard  to  foresee 
the  time  when,  even  with  irrigation,  its  present  condition  will  be 
materially  changed. 

The  following  table  gives  the  average  results  of  mechanical 
analyses  of  the  soil  of  this  type : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Tuscan  stnnri  sanchj  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine        c;-,. 
sand.           ^"*- 

Clay. 

2-1177,24178 

Soil 

Per  cent. 

7.4 

Per  cent. 
14.7 

Per  cent. 
7.9 

Per  cent. 
11.7 

Per  cent. 
16.9 

Per  cent. 
28.9 

Per  cent. 
12i3 

TUSCAN    STONY    LOAM. 


The  Tuscan  stony  loam  bears  strong  resemblances  to  the  stony 
sandy  loam  of  the  same  series.  Typically  it  consists  of  from  18  to 
SO  inches  of  reddish  or  reddish-brown  loam  carrying  fewer  rock  frag- 
ments in  the  soil  body  and  less  burdened  with  the  stony  surface  accu- 
mulation than  the  Tuscan  stony  sandy  loam.  It  is  always  underlain 
at  a  shalloAv  depth,  rarely  over  30  inches,  by  the  impenetrable  mass 
of  cemented  volcanic  material  previously  described.  As  is  the  case 
in  the  stony  sandy  loam,  this  underlying  material  is  sometimes  ex- 
posed at  the  surface.  The  type  is  subject  to  little  variation  except 
along  lines  of  contact  with  the  Vina  series  where  gradations  some- 
times occur. 

The  type  occupies  several  bodies  of  medium  extent  in  that  section 
of  the  area  east  of  the  Sacramento  River.  Its  general  surface  is  level 
to  rolling  and  is  marked  by  meandering  drainage  depressions  with 
indistinct  banks.     It  is  at  all  times  treeless  and  barren  in  appearance. 


42 


FIELD   OPERATIOXS   OF   THE   BUREAU    OF   SOILS,   1910. 


In  origin  this  type  is  almost  identical  with  the  Tuscan  stony  sandy 
loam.  It  varies  from  the  latter  type  in  that  it  usually  occupies 
slightly  lower  general  elevations  and  has  thus  received  some  trans- 
ported material  to  increase  its  depth. 

Attempts  have  been  made  to  grow  grain  upon  this  type,  but  with 
small  success,  it  being  soon  abandoned  to  use  as  sheep  range.  At. 
some  distant  date  the  deeper  parts  of  this  type  may  be  utilized,  with 
irrigation,  for  shallow-rooted  crops.  The  low  state  of  development 
at  this  time,  even  of  better  types  than  this,  places  its  relative  worth 
very  low.  It  will  never  be  adapted  to  alfalfa  or  to  any  of  the  deeper 
rooted  cro])s. 

The  following  tal)le  gives  the  average  results  of  mechanical  analy- 
ses of  the  soil  of  tliis  type : 

McclKtiiivaJ  iiiiiilysc.s  of  Tuscan  stoiii/  hxini. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

24179,24180 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
4.0 

Per  cent. 
6.0 

Per  cent. 
4.9 

Per  cent. 
11.8 

Per  cent. 
20.0 

Per  cent. 
30.1 

Per  cent. 
23.1 

ELDER  GRAVELLY  FINE  SANDY  LOAM. 


The  Polder  gravelly  fine  sandy  loam  is  much  stratified  alluvial  ma- 
terial of  coar.'^e  texture  and  rather  recent  deposition.  It  is  subject  to 
much  variation.  Typically  it  consists  of  a  grayish,  rather  light- 
textured  fine  sandy  loam  carrying  waterworn  gravel  of  various  sizes, 
often  in  excessive  quantities.  This  material  may  extend  to  a  depth  of 
72  inches  or  be  underlain  at  any  depth  below  18  inches  by  stratified 
bodies  of  sand,  silt,  or  gravel  beds  in  irregular  sequences. 

The  area  of  this  type  is  small,  being  confined  to  the  alluvial  bot- 
toms of  the  ])rincipal  we.st-side  streams,  bordering  and  but  slightly 
elevated  above  their  present  channels. 

It  is  of  recent  origin,  being  the  material  carried  and  rolled  long- 
distances  by  flood  waters  and  in  most  cases  still  subject  to  overflow 
and  modification  by  erosion  and  addition  of  fresh  material.  The 
surface  is  pitted  and  strewn  with  gravel,  but  generally  level,  except 
for  intermittent  stream  ways  and  abandoned  gullies  traversing  the 
surface.  It  usually  borders  the  streams  with  steep  banks,  its  inco- 
herent structure  jjeimitting  a  sudden  change  in  the  channel  course  by 
erosion.  It  naturally  ■supports  a  vigorous  growth  of  underbrush  and 
fre<|uently  a  dense  tree  growth,  most  bodies  being  yet  uncleared. 

It  is  of  i-elatively  small  agricultural  importance.  Owing  to  its 
limited  extent  and  porous,  leachy  character,  large  quantities  of  irri- 
gation A\ater  are  necessary  if  this  soil  is  to  be  made  productive.    At 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    RED    BLUFF    AREA,    CALIFORNIA. 


43 


present  no  use  is  made  of  it  except  as  pasture.  Irrigation  water  can 
be  developed  for  it  by  pumping  from  the  stream  bed  along  which  it 
lies.  It  would  be  better,  however,  to  use  this  water  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  better  t^'pes  of  the  same  series  which  possess  equal 
advantages  of  proximity  to  pumping  sites. 

At  some  distant  date  when  water  for  irrigation  becomes  sufficiently 
abundant  to  justify  a  copious  application  to  this  soil  it  may  be  ex- 
pected to  return  fair  yields  of  alfalfa  and  various  fruits,  except  on 
the  sandy  or  gravelly  unproductive  spots.  As  a  whole  it  does  not 
justify  an  average  tax  for  water  rights,  but  fortunately  its  area  is 
limited. 

The  following  table  gives  the  results  of  a  mechanical  analysis  of 
the  soil  of  this  type : 

Mechanical  analysis  of  Elder  gravelly  fine  sandy  loam. 


Xumber. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine      Very  fine 
sand.         sand. 

sut. 

Clay. 

24121 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
3.0 

Per  cent. 

7.C 

Percent. 
9.6 

Percent.  ,  Per  cent. 
38.6            11.8 

Per  cent. 
23.4 

Per  cent. 
5.9 

ELDER    SILT    LOAM. 


The  Elder  silt  loam  consists  of  a  smooth-textured  very  friable  silt 
loam,  ranging  in  color  from  grayish  to  dark  gray,  and  having  a 
depth  of  6  feet  or  more.  This  material  is  underlain  by  coarse  al- 
luvium. The  few  variations  from  this  typical  structure  are  found 
i^rincipally  at  points  of  contact  with  the  silty  clay  loam  and  gravelly 
fine  sandy  loam  of  the  same  series,  gradual  transitions  from  type  to 
type  being  the  rule.  A  similar  variation  occurs  at  the  section  where 
the  alluvial  materials  of  Elder  and  Thomas  Creeks  approach  the 
flood  plains  of  the  Sacramento.  In  exceptional  cases  the  surface 
carries  a  few,  rounded  cobbles. 

The  most  representative  body  of  this  type  lies  around  Richfield, 
as  the  rather  broad  alluvial  bottom  of  Thomas  Creek.  This  body, 
together  with  others  along  the  same  creek  and  some  of  smaller  area 
along  Elder  Creek,  comprises  most  of  the  type.  They  are  all  con- 
fined to  the  west  side.  The  surface  is  level  and  without  minor  ir- 
regularities to  decrease  the  value  of  the  type  for  farming.  It  is  only 
slightly  marked  b}^  shallow  remnants  of  winding  waterways,  formerly 
overflow  channels  or  the  courses  of  minor  drainage  ways.  The  type 
is  well  drained,  being  suificiently  elevated  to  escape  overflow  and 
possessing  no  underground  features  to  arrest  the  jDcrcolation  of 
surface  water.  It  is  usually  separated  from  the  major  streams  by 
strips  of  Elder  gravelly  fine  sandy  loam,  and  where  it  reaches  the 


44 


FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU    OF   SOILS,   1910. 


valley  edge  a  low  terrace  usually  marks  the  beginning  of  the  more 
elevated  series  previously  described. 

In  origin  this  type  is  wholly  alluvial.  l)eing  the  somewhat  recent 
finer  material  laid  down  by  the  two  principal  west  side  creeks  pre- 
viously mentioned.  It  does  not  appear  that  wash  from  the  Redding 
or  Tehama  series  has  influenced  the  type  in  any  marked  degree. 
Great  solitary  valley  oaks  dot  the  surface,  remaining  members  of  a 
heavier  growth,  and  upon  uncleared  portions  they  are  accompanied 
by  thickets  of  elder,  Avillow,  and  coffee  berry,  contrasting  strongly 
in  late  summer  with  the  barren  apjjearance  just  above  the  terrace. 
The  rocks  yielding  the  particles  forming  the  Elder  silt  loam  lie  far 
beyond  the  western  limits  of  the  Red  Bluff  area  along  the  stream 
sources. 

It  is  a  first-class  agricultural  soil,  being  fully  utilized  at  this  time, 
principally  in  the  production  of  dry-farmed  grain.  There  are  also 
orchards  of  prunes  and  ^x^aches  covering  limited  areas  near  Richfield, 
together  with  some  alfalfa  irrigated  by  means  of  water  pumped  from 
the  gravel  beds  of  Thomas  Creek.  The  type  produces  heavy  yields 
per  acre  of  wheat  and  barley  under  an  extensive  cropping  system,  but 
can  not  long  continue  to  be  simply  a  grain  soil  because  of  its  great 
possibilities.  It  is  one  of  the  best  soils  of  the  area,  and  with  irriga- 
tion is  capable  of  a  high  degree  of  intensive  cultivation.  All  the  fruits, 
alfalfa,  sugar  beets,  berries,  melons,  and  truck  crops  will  return 
profitable  yields  whenever  the  soil  shall  be  developed  by  the  applica- 
tion of  water.  This  is  one  of  the  few  types  of  the  west  side  having 
access  to  readilj'^  available  underground  water  for  irrigation.  While 
the  expense  of  pumping  is  considerable  it  is  not  prohibitive.  There 
:ire  some  bodies  of  the  type  of  older  deposition  lyin.g  slightly  above 
the  present  alluvial  plain,  but  the  surface  of  most  of  it  lies  at  an 
elevation  easily  reached  by  a  moderate  lift  with  centrifugal  pumps. 
Water  sufficient  for  considerable  development  could  be  secured  in  this 
way  from  the  gravelly  beds  of  Thomas  and  Elder  Creeks  for  crops 
not  now  possible.  The  type  is  not  suited  to  intensive  cultivation 
A.ithout  irrigation,  and  while  with  care  trees  can  be  brought  to  ma- 
turity the  returns  are  light.  Its  proper  development  requires  some 
comprehensive  system  of  irrigation. 

The  following  table  gives  the  average  results  of  mechanical  analyses 
of  the  soil  of  this  type: 


McclKiiiicdl  ini<il!i'<(  .■<  (if  r]hl(  r  .v//.'  Ininn. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
Kravpl. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

24n5, 24110 

Soil 

I'er  cent. 
0.0 

Per  cent. 
0.2 

Per  cent. 
0.8 

Per  cent. 
10. 9 

Per  cent. 
17.1 

Per  cent. 
55.4 

Per  cent. 
9.7 

SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE    RED    BLUFF    AREA,    CALIFORNIA. 


45 


ELDKR   SILTY   CLAY   LOAM. 


The  soil  of  the  Elder  silty  clay  loam  consists  of  a  very  smooth- 
textured  clay  loam,  carrjang  a  relatively  high  quantity  of  silt.  It 
has  about  the  same  color  as  the  Elder  silt  loam,  being  a  dark  gray. 
The  soil  is  comparatively  uniform,  rich  in  organic  matter,  and  easily 
tilled.  It  is  underlain  at  24  to  80  inches  bj^  a  heavy  loam  of  great 
water-holding  power-,  a  little  lighter  colored  and  of  more  compact 
structure  than  the  overlying  material.  In  exceptional  cases  the  sub- 
soil carries  considerabh'  greater  quantities  of  fine  sand,  rendering  it 
somewhat  more  permeable  than  the  typical  loam  material.  Some- 
times a  small  quantity  of  waterworn  gravel  is  present.  At  varying 
depths  below  6  feet  gravel  beds  are  found. 

The  Elder  silty  clay  loam,  occurs  in  bodies  of  medium  extent  along 
Thomas  and  Elder  Creeks,  the  largest  area  being  on  the  south  side  of 
the  latter  stream.  The  boundaries  between  this  and  other  types  are 
rather  indistinct.  In  extent,  topogi-aphy,  relative  elevation,  and 
drainage  features  it  corresj^onds  very  closely  with  the  Elder  silt  loam, 
the  two  types  being  intimatelj^  associated  soils  formed  b}'  the  same 
agencies  but  of  different-sized  particles. 

The  Elder  silty  clay  loam  is  alluvial  throughout.  Elder  and 
Thomas  Creeks  contribute  to  its  formation  by  depositing  the  finer- 
textured  materials  under  water  conditions  slightly  different  from 
those  surrounding  the  formation  of  the  silt  loam.  It  is  possible  that 
the  type  is  a  little  older  in  time  of  deposition  than  the  rest  of  the 
series  and  has  undergone  some  modification  by  weathering. 

This  soil  is  utilized  in  the  production  of  grain,  heav}^  yields  being 
the  rule.  Some  small  fields  of  alfalfa  are  under  irrigation.  As  with 
the  Elder  silt  loam  its  great  value  is  not  brought  out  in  the  produc- 
tion of  grain  crops,  although  they  must  continue  in  the  absence  of 
irrigation.  It  is  perhaps  a  little  less  friable  and  will  be  slightly  less 
adapted  to  very  intensive  cropping  than  the  silt  loam,  but  is  one  of 
the  first  soils  of  the  area  in  productiveness.  Irrigation  is  all  it  needs. 
This  could  be  supplied  in  a  somewhat  unsatisfactory,  incomplete  way 
by  more  extensive  pumping  from  the  accessible  stream  beds.  A  com- 
prehensive gravity  system  is  needed  for  the  fullest  development  of 
the  type.    It  will  be  found  well  adapted  to  a  wide  range  of  crops. 

The  following  table  gives  the  results  of  mechanical  analyses  of  the 
soil  and  subsoil  of  this  type : 


Mechanical  analyses  of  Elder  silty  clay  loam. 

Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse      Medium 
sand.         sand. 

Fine       Very  fine 
sand.          sand. 

1 

Silt. 

Clay. 

24119 

Soil 

Per  cent. 

0.1 

.0 

Per  cent.    Per  cent. 
0  2             0.4 

Per  cent.  '  Per  cent. 
5.9            17.1 

Per  cent. 
56.6 
38.3 

Per  cent. 
19.5 

24120 

..    Subsoil 

.3               .4 

9.0            31.8 

19.9 

46  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF    THE   BUREAU   OF   SOILS,   1910. 

VINA  FINE  SANDY   LOAM. 

This  type  of  soil  consists  of  a  daik-<iTay  or  grayish-brown  to  almost 
black  fine  sandy  loam,  sometimes  micaceous  and  iisnally  extending 
to  a  depth  of  (J  feet.  It  has  an  extremely  friable  structure  and  is 
easy  to  cultivate.  This  type  is  in  the  main  remarkably  uniform, 
although  there  are  small  patches  where  the  typical  smooth  fine 
sandy  texture  gives  Avay  to  a  slightly  coarser  phase  or  to  a  soil  con- 
taining more  silt.  It  is  usually  free  from  gravel,  except  in  narrow 
.strips  bordering  washes,  where  coarser  alluviimi  may  be  present. 
That  bod}'  lying  along  ]\Iill  Creek  often  lias  quantities  of  andesitic 
gravel  strewn  over  the  surface,  orginating  from  bodies  of  contiguous 
Tuscan  stony  sandy  loam.  In  the  few  places  where  the  type  has  a 
depth  of  less  than  6  feet  it  is  underlain  by  gravel  beds  or  by  the 
volcanic  conglomerate  masses  of  bordering  types. 

The  type  is  found  as  an  extensive  body  along  Deer  Creek,  widen- 
ing as  it  approaches  the  town  of  Vina  and  reaching  the  Sacramento 
River  with  a  frontage  of  about  1  mile.  More  limited  areas  lie  along 
Mill  and  Antelope  Creeks.  The  l)()undary  lines  defining  this  soil  are 
usually  quite  distinct  in  the  Mill  Creek  section,  being  marked  by 
terrace  lines.  This  is  also  true  along  such  parts  of  the  Deer  Creek 
body  as  lie  in  contact  with  the  Tuscan  series.  It  is  only  on  the  valley 
trough  side  and  in  the  Antelope  Creek  sections  that  gradations  into 
other  types  are  found. 

The  surface  of  the  Vina  fine  sandy  loam  is  smooth,  but  with  a  con- 
siderable slope  toward  the  Sacramento  River,  averaging  in  rate  of 
fall  the  streams  along  which  it  lies,  or  about  30  or  40  feet  to  the  mile. 
There  arc  many  gentle  dei)rossions  marking  the  surface,  and  irriga- 
tion in  certain  parts  has  rendered  these  old  channel  remnants  rather 
poorly  drained.  Relief  of  such  places  by  simply  freeing  the  channels 
through  deepening  them  slightly  would  render  the  type  well  drained 
throughout.     It  is  porous  and  subsoil  drainage  is  naturally  good. 

The  valley  oak  finds  a  natural  home  upon  this  type  and  this  growth 
yet  remains  upon  uncultivatel  areas.  AVillow,cottonwood,  and  grape- 
vines grow  plentiful!}'  along  tlie  stream  ways. 

In  origin  this  type  is  entirely  alluvial,  and  it  is  the  most  recent 
product  of  tlie  east  side  pei'ennial  streams,  Antelope,  JMill,  and  Deer 
Cicck's.  It  has  been  carried  fiom  the  upper-stream  sources  and  laid 
<lowii  in  its  j)i-escnt  position  without  a  great  deal  of  intermingling 
with  the  materials  of  tiie  'J'liscan  or  other  soil  series  occurring  in  the 
area.  The  process  of  foi'ination  has  been  accompanied  by  an  erosion 
of  the  old  Tuscan  tiilT  inalcrial. 

The  Vina  fine  sandy  loam,  because  of  its  depth,  frial)le'stnicture, 
natuial  fertility,  and  ii-i'igation  possibilities  is  in  its  typical  occur- 
rence one  of  the  most  valuable  soils  in  the  area.  Its  entire  area  is 
capable  of  irrigation,  and  considerable  development  along  this  line 


SOIL   SURVEY   OF   THE   RED   BLUFF   AREA,   CALIFORNIA. 


47 


has  taken  place.  It  is  too  valuable  a  soil  for  grain  growing,  although 
heavy  crops  are  secured  from  such  parts  as  are  not  otherwise  utilized. 
Alfalfa  is  admirably  adapted  to  produce  maximum  yields  and  is 
receiving  much  attention.  Numerous  old  peach  orchards  give  evi- 
dence, by  the  superior  quality  and  yield  of  fruit,  that  this  is  a  stable 
industry.  The  orchards  are  generally  rather  poorly  cared  for  and 
maximum  profits  are  not  made.  The  Stanford  Ranch  has  demon- 
strated the  production  of  wine  grapes  to  be  profitable.  The  type 
has  as  wide  a  crop  range  as  any  other  in  northern  California,  and 
more  intensive  agriculture  upon  it  is  fully  warranted.  Truck  crops 
melons,  and  all  the  stone  fruits  will  be  profitable.  Under  intensive 
methods  such  a  soil  under  the  local  climatic  conditions  is  capable  of 
supporting  a  family  upon  an  average  tract  of  20  acres. 

Vina  fine  sandy  loam,  gravelly  phase. — The  soil  of  the  gravelly 
phase  of  the  Vina  fine  sandy  loam  is  subject  to  considerable  varia- 
tion in  texture,  structure,  and  depth,  but  consists  usually  of  a  brown 
loam  of  fine  sandy  texture  and  of  rather  loose  character,  carrying  a 
large  content  of  gravel  from_  volcanic  rocks.  At  a  depth  varying 
from  20  to  36  inches  it  is  underlain  by  cobbles  derived  from  erosion 
of  the  material  of  the  Tuscan  series  or  of  the  indurated  volcanic 
gravel  commonly  underlying  the  soils  of  the  Vina  and  Tuscan  series. 
The  surface  is  usually  more  or  less  strewn  with  angular  volcanic  cob- 
bles and  bowlders.     The  surface  is  sloping  and  is  excessively  drained. 

The  type  is  largely  a  reworked  product  of  the  Tuscan  series,  in 
many  instances  grading  into  it.  Intermittent  stream  wash  largely 
forms  the  material  and  accounts  for  its  variability.  It  is  treeless  and 
of  limited  extent. 

This  limited  area  of  soil,  indicated  in  the  soil  map  by  gravel  symbol, 
is  typically  better  in  agricultural  possibilities  than  the  Tuscan  series, 
but  poorer  than  any  other  of  the  Vina  series.  Parts  of  one  or  two 
fields  of  grain-farmed  land  appear  upon  this  phase,  but  at  present  it 
is  not  used  to  any  appreciable  extent  for  agriculture,  grazing  being 
practically  its  use.  Parts  of  it  can  be  intensively  developed  with 
water  for  irrigation. 

The  following  table  gives  the  average  results  of  mechanical  analy- 
ses of  samples  of  the  soil  of  the  Vina  fine  sandy  loam  and  of  a  single 
analysis  of  the  soil  of  the  gravelly  phase : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Vina  fine  sandy  loam. 


Number. 

Descrip- 
tion. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

Typical  soil: 

24137,24138,24139... 
Gravelly  phase: 

24141 

Soil... 
...do... 

Per  cent. 
0.5 

1.9 

Per  cent. 
2.6 

3.6 

Per  cent. 
5.7 

4.6 

Per  cent. 
27.1 

17.7 

Per  cent. 
33.8 

24.6 

Per  cent. 
22.1 

21.6 

Per  cent. 
7.8 

25  5 

48  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU   OF   SOILS,   1910. 


VINA    LOAM. 


The  Vina  loam  consists  typically  of  from  '20  to  30  inches  of  brown 
or  reddi.sh-broAvn  smooth-textured  loam.  In  some  places  the  content 
of  silt  is  higher  and  the  depth  of  soil  greater  (G  feet  or  more)  than 
in  the  typical  areas.  Generally  the  soil  is  underlain  at  a  depth  of 
about  24  inches  by  gravel  beds.  These  are  composed  of  reworked 
transported  material  derived  from  the  indurated  subsoil  of  the  Tus- 
can series  or  the  type  may  rest  directly  upon  these  undisturbed  con- 
glomerate nuisses.  Small  quantities  of  waterworn  volcanic  gravel 
are  also  usually  present  in  the  typical  soil,  though  onl}^  in  exceptional 
cases  in  amounts  sufficient  to  influence  the  tillage  or  yields.  The 
type  is  at  all  times  rather  friable  and  well  drained. 

The  Vina  loam  occurs  in  several  fan-shaped  bodies  in  the  delta  of 
Mill  Creek  and  is  practically  confined  to  the  region  influenced  by 
this  stream.  The  surface  is  level  to  gently  sloping.  Its  different 
bodies  are  separated  by  the  depressions  of  actual  or  abandoned  chan- 
nels of  Mill  Creek  which  approach  the  Sacramento  River  by  diverg- 
ing courses.  Kather  abrupt  terraces,  usually  bordering  thase  depres- 
sions, form  the  most  pronounced  topographic  feature  of  the  type. 

The  region  occupied  by  the  Vina  loam  was  at  one  time  a  part  of  an 
extensive  plain,  large  portions  of  which  are  still  occupied  by  the 
Tuscan  series.  Mill  Creek,  a  perennial  stream,  traverses  this  j^lain 
in  a  small  valley  until  it  reaches  a  point  about  2  or  3  miles  from 
the  Sacramento  River,  when  its  main  waterway  divides  into  several 
small  channels,  some  in  present  use  and  others  abandoned.  The 
Vina  loam  occupies  the  areas  lying  between  these  channels.  Its  sur- 
face material  is  the  product  carried  some  distances  by  the  stream 
and  intermingled  with  soil  material  of  the  original  plain  which  has 
been  largely  removed  by  erosion.  The  subsoil,  with  its  variations 
from  loose  to  cemented  gravel,  represents  the  different  degrees  of 
reworking  to  wliich  the  subsurface  layers  have  been  subjected. 

The  original  vegetation  consisted  largely  of  blue  oak,  with  ceano- 
tiius  and  cliapnii-al.  Parts  of  the  areas  are  yet  covered  with  this 
growth. 

Limited  areas  were  cleared  years  ago  and  devoted  to  grain,  but  its 
princij):il  area  did  not  receive  serious  attention  until  the  recent  irri- 
gation development  in  the  region  occupied  by  this  and  kindred  types. 
It  constitutes  the  body  of  land  locally  known  as  the  "  Park  soils." 
The  value  of  this  type  without  irrigation  is  small,  grain  being  per- 
haps the  only  fro|)  ])()ssil)l(»  and  even  this  giving  Ioav  yields.  With 
irrigation  and  iiilclligciit  methods  a  diversity  of  crops  is  possible. 
The  soil,  generally  speaking,  is  rather  shallow  for  most  irrigated 
crops,  so  that  its  range  of  adaptation  is  relatively  limited.  Alfalfa 
is  not  to  he  iccoiiimended,  and  the  same  is  true  of  all  the  deeper 
rooted  tree  fruits,  except  on  those  portions  where  quite  a  depth  of 


SOIL   SURVEY   OP   THE   RED   BLUFF   AREA,   CALIFORNIA. 


49 


soil  or  a  free  gravelly  subsoil  occur.  Berries,  melons,  peaches,  and 
grapes  will  thrive  and  give  returns  commensurate  ^Yith  "a  mod- 
erate land  value.  The  establishment  of  citrus  fruit  industries  is 
impracticable. 

Vina  loam,  deep  silty  phase, — The  deep  silty  phase  of  the  Vina 
loam  is  of  brownish  or  grayish-brown  color  and  usually  extends  to 
a  depth  of  6  feet.  It  is  of  friable  character  and  yields  readily  to 
tillage. 

This  phase  occurs  as  two  or  three  somewhat  extensive  bodies  below 
the  large  terrace  line  separating  the  upland  Tuscan  series  from  the 
alluvial  plain  of  the  Sacramento  River  and  at  a  higher  elevation  than 
the  Sacramento  series.  In  the  Antelope  Creek  section  it  borders  the 
various  channels  of  that  creek  where  this  stream  turns  at  an  angle 
toward  the  river.  As  the  river  is  approached  the  type  gradually 
gives  way  to  the  types  of  the  Sacramento  series. 

The  surface  of  the  areas  is  level,  but  well  drained,  and  sufficiently 
elevated  to  escape  flooding  by  the  Sacramento  River  overflow.  Chan- 
nels of  abandoned  waterwaj^s  mark  its  surface. 

In  origin  this  is  an  alluvial  type,  formed  from  material  laid  down 
by  the  east  side  streams  in  their  shifting  courses  after  leaving  the  con- 
fined channels  which  they  have  cut  through  the  elevated  plain.  The 
soil  is  of  great  depth,  but  in  nearly  all  cases  the  volcanic  gravel  beds 
underlie  it,  probably  within  20  or  30  feet. 

Valley  oak,  cottonwood,  willow,  and  sycamore  along  the  water 
courses  constitute  the  natural  tree  growth.  Wild  oats  and  wild 
grasses  grow  luxuriantly. 

Practically  all  of  this  phase  is  utilized,  the  greater  part  for  grain 
growing,  but  with  some  attention  to  irrigated  alfalfa,  maximum 
yields  of  both  crops  being  secured. 

The  deep  silty  phase  of  the  Vina  loam  is  much  superior  to  the 
more  elevated  and  shallower  phases  and  is  one  of  the  very  best  soils 
of  the  area.  It  possesses  a  wide  range  in  adaptation  to  crops  and  is 
capable  of  being  brought  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation  under  irriga- 
tion. It  is  well  adapted  to  all  the  crops  climatically  possible  and  will 
not  fail  to  give  maximum  yields  of  peaches,  prunes,  grapes,  sugar 
beets,  alfalfa,  and  various  truck  crops. 

The  following  table  gives  the  results  of  a  mechanical  analysis  of 
the  soil  of  this  type : 


Mechanical  analysis  of  Tina  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

24143 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
1.4 

Per  cent. 

2.S 

Per  cent. 
3.6 

Per  cent. 
12.5 

Per  cent. 
19.1 

Per  cent. 
45.8 

Per  cent. 
14.8 

60  FIELD  OPERATIONS   OP   THE   BUREAU   OF   SOILS,   1910. 

VINA    CLAY   LOAM. 

The  soil  of  the  Vina  clay  loam  consists  of  a  light-brown,  very 
smooth  textured  clay  loam  with  a  tendency'  to  puddle  and  crack 
slightly  over  a  considerable  proportion  of  its  area.  This  material  may 
extend  to  a  depth  of  C)  feet,  but  is  typically  underlain  at  depths  below 
24  inches  by  a  slightly  lighter  colored  clay  loam  or  heavy  loam,  some- 
times carrying  small  quantities  of  gritty  material.  At  times  a  few 
small  waterworn,  volcanic  gravel  occur  in  the  surface  soil,  but  never 
in  quantities  sufficient  to  alter  field  conditions.  Everything  con- 
sidered, both  the  soil  and  subsoil  are  remarkably  fine  in  texture  and 
inclined  to  compact.  These  characteristics  do  not  prevent  the  soil 
from  becoming  quite  friable  with  proper  tillage.  At  a  minimum 
depth  of  about  5  feet,  usually  much  more,  is  found  the  volcanic  con- 
glomerate underlying  the  Tuscan  series.  It  can  scarcely  in  any 
instance  seriously  affect  the  agricultural  value  of  the  type. 

This  type  is  rather  an  important  one,  occurring  in  several  extensive 
bodies  on  the  east  side  of  the  Sacramento  River.  It  usually  occurs  as 
rather  broad  tracts  just  below  the  marked  terrace  separating  the 
upland  Tuscan  series  from  the  alluvial  valley  of  the  Sacramento.  It 
lies  at  a  general  elevation  only  slightly  above  the  soils  classified  with 
the  Sacramento  series.  Along  the  contact  with  the  Tuscan  series 
distinct  lines  of  division  appear,  but  in  separating  it  from  other  tj^pes 
the  boundaries  were  more  or  less  arbitrarily  drawn. 

The  Vina  clay  loam  typically  has  a  level  surface  marked  by  shallow 
depressions  and  abandoned  waterwa3's.  The  type  is  subject  to  inter- 
mittent ovei'flow  by  flood  waters  of  the  small  streams  as  they  emerge 
from  their  small  canyons  into  this  plains  region.  The  surface  drain- 
age is  sluggish. 

The  t3'pe  is  entirely  alluvial  in  origin,  being  the  finer  material  laid 
down  in  quiet  water  by  the  lateral  drainage  ways  along  the  sides  of 
the  great  alluvial  plain.  The  material  is  derived  largely  from  the 
Tuscan  series  of  soils. 

In  a  natural  state  the  Vina  clay  loam  supports  valley  oaks  of  large 
size.  Luxuriant  gi'owths  of  wild  oats  yield  hay  upon  such  portions 
as  are  not  under  cultivation.  Grain  growing  constitutes  practically 
the  only  use  of  this  type  at  present  and  without  irrigation  the  produc- 
tion of  this  crop  alone  must  continue.  Good  yields  are  the  rule.  It 
is  not  believed  that  much  headway  toward  intensive  cropping  can  be 
made  without  irrigation.  Beyond  doubt  the  soil  is  admirably  adapted 
to  a  variety  of  crops,  making  small  holdings  possible.  Such  irriga- 
tion development  as  has  taken  place  in  the  vicinity  of  Los  Molinos  in- 
dicates that  the  type  is  well  suited  to  alfalfa,  the  stone  fruits,  and  a 
great  variety  of  general  farm  crops.  It  is  a  good  soil  and  practically 
its  entire  area  is  suited  for  subdivision  into  small  farms  whenever 
irrigation  is  provided. 


SOIL    SURVEY    OF    THE   EED    BLUFF   AREA,    CALIFORNIA, 


51 


The    following    table    gives    the    average    results    of    mechanical 
analyses  of  the  soil  and  subsoil  of  this  type : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Vina  clay  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 

sand. 

sut. 

Clay.    . 

24144,24146 

Soil 

Per  cent. 

0.4 

.2 

Per  cent. 
1.0 
1.2 

Per  cent. 
1.4 
1.7 

Per  cent. 
7.3 

8.4 

Per  cent. 
22.3 
20.4 

Per  cent. 
47.9 
46.4 

Per  cent. 
19.2 

24145,24147 

Subsoil 

21.1 

VINA    CL.VY   ADOBE. 


The  Vina  clay  adobe  is  a  very  dark-gray  or  black,  heavy  textured 
clay  of  pronounced  adobe  structure.  It  is  extremely  hard  and  com- 
pact when  diy  and  cracks  into  the  typical  rough  cubes.  When  wet 
it  is  almost  impassable  because  of  its  sticky  character.  Altogether 
it  is  a  refractory,  poorly  structured  soil,  although  carrying  quantities 
of  small  volcanic  gravel  throughout  its  principal  bodies.  It  has 
many  small  drainage  ways  down  its  slopes,  sometimes  defined  as 
water  channels,  but  usually  occurring  as  ill-defined  meandering  de- 
pressions without  abrupt  banks.  These  depressions  contain  great 
quantities  of  roughly  shaped  volcanic  bowlders  from  3  to  8  inches 
in  diameter  and  give  the  surface  a  netted  appearance.  This  gravelly 
adobe  material  usually  does  not  have  a  depth  of  more  than  20  to  48 
inches  where  it  grades  sharply  into  the  indurated  mass  of  gravel  and 
volcanic  tuff  which  underlies  much  of  the  east  side  of  the  valley. 

Boundaries  of  the  areas  of  the  Vina  clay  adobe  are  rather  indis- 
tinct and  transitions  rather  than  sharp  lines  characterize  its  contact 
with  other  types.  It  includes  fi-equent  small  bodies  of  Tuscan  soils. 
There  are  a  few  minor  areas  of  the  type  occurring  below  the  terrace 
and  associated  wdth  the  alluvial  plains  soils  and  here  a  greater  depth 
of  soil,  absence  of  the  surface  accumulations  of  bowlders,  and  a  flatter 
surface  prevail.  This  latter  phase,  which  is  indicated  upon  the  map 
by  ruling,  covers  several  poorly  drained  depressions  occurring  wdthin 
the  Vina  cla}^  loam.  The  main  bodies  extend  irregularly  down  the 
slopes  within  bodies  of  Tuscan  stony  sandy  loam,  being  associated 
with  that  type  in  position  and  elevation,  and  so  properly  classed  as 
an  upland  soil. 

Its  general  surface  is  that  of  a  sloping  plain  of  good  average 
drainage,  except  along  its  lower  borders  wdiere  the  fall  decreases  on 
contact  with  lower-lying  types.  The  greatest  variation  in  surface 
condition  is  caused  by  the  parallel  or  winding  stone-laden  waterways. 

In  origin  the  type  is  probably  coUuvial  and  alluvial.  It  is  formed 
mainly  of  material  l)rought  from  beyond  the  eastern  boundary  of  the 
survey  by  intermittent  streams. 


52 


FIELD    OPERATIONS    OF    THE    BUREAU    OF    SOILS,    1910. 


Except  ill  those  limited  areas  previously  mentioned  a-s  l.ying  below 
the  upland,  the  type  is  treeless.  A  sparse  native  grass  does  little  to 
relieve  the  general  barren  and  desolate  appearance  of  the  areas.  On 
the  low-lying  bodies  valley  oaks  are  found.  Here  the  general  condi- 
tions of  development  are  more  like  those  of  the  poorly  drained 
portions  of  tlie  Vina  clay  loam. 

At  i)rcsent  the  type  is  not  cultivated  except  for  grain  growing  upon 
certain  small  areas  favored  with  greater  depth  of  soil  than  usually 
found.  With  the  Tuscan  stony  loam  of  the  same  region  it  is  used 
for  grazing  and  can  be  correctly  classed  as  a  grazing  soil.  It  is  a 
poor  soil  for  ordinaiy  crops,  owing  to  its  shallow  depth,  stony  sur- 
face, and  unfavorable  structure.  If  anything  is  ever  made  of  this 
type  it  will  come  as  a  result  of  considerable  effort  in  overcoming 
these  natural  phj^sical  defects.  Irrigation  Avill  of  course  be  necessar3\ 
Little  hope  of  immediate  development  can  be  entertained  for  the 
bulk  of  the  tj^pe.  Even  with  irrigation  no  deep-rooted  crops  Avill 
make  a  vigorous  growth,  and  the  same  holds  with  regard  to  the  truck 
crops,  owing  to  their  need  of  constant  cultivation.  Perhaps  pear  and 
grape  culture  may  prove  possible.  In  any  event  the  soil  must  be 
conditioned  by  careful  cultivation  and  the  use  of  green  manures  to 
secure  a  granulated  structure,  which  it  does  not  now  possess. 

The  following  table  gives  the  average  results  of  mechanical  analy- 
ses of  the  soil  of  this  type: 

Mcchttnicnl  (innli/soi  of  ^'iml  clay  ailobr. 


Number. 

Description 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

\'iTy  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

24148,24149 

Soil 

Per  ceni. 
1.5 

Per  cent. 
2.0 

Per  cent. 
2.2 

Per  cent. 
4.3 

Per  rent. 
9.0 

Per  cent. 
33.3 

Per  cent. 
46.9 

SACRAMKNTO   FINK   SAND. 

The  surface  soil  of  the  Sacramento  fine  sand  consists  of  a  fine- 
textured,  brownish-gray,  micaceous  sand  of  loose  structure.  It  may 
extend  to  a  depth  of  6  feet,  but  is  usually  underlain  at  varying 
depths  below  12  inches  by  material  similar  to  that  forming  the  silt 
loam  or  fine  sandy  loam  of  the  same  series.  It  is  subject  to  consid- 
erable variation,  and  owing  to  its  manner  of  formation  is  marked  by 
many  sniall  patches  of  related  soils. 

It  occurs  in  several  bodies  of  small  extent,  or  islands,  along  the 
Sacramento  Kiver.  The  type  is  subject  to  annual  overflow,  either 
entirely  or  in  the  numerous  cuts  and  waterways,  which  give  it  a 
much  dis.serted  and  eroded  surface  by  their  constantly  shifting 
courses. 


SOIL   SUKVEY    OF    THE    EED    BLUFF   AREA,    CALIFORNIA. 


53 


It  is  alluvial  in  origin  and  is  the  comparatively  recent  product 
of  flood  waters,  being  the  medium-textured  alluvium  deposited  by 
flood  waters.  At  some  points  where  the  floods  sweep  across  low- 
lying  land  occupying  bends  in  the  Sacramento  River,  severe  erosion 
has  taken  place,  accompanied  by  deposition  of  fine  sand  as  an  irregu- 
lar covering.  At  earlier  times  some  sections  now  occupied  by  this 
type  were  not  subject  to  such  frequent  flooding  and  so  were  cleared 
and  utilized  for  agi'iculture.  Slight  changes  in  the  river  increased 
erosion,  resulting  in  the  abandonment  of  the  small  sections  so  affected. 

Most  of  this  type  has  never  been  cleared  and  supports  the  thickest 
jungle  to  be  found  in  the  Sacramento  bottoms.  Lofty  cottouAvoods, 
sycamores,  and  oaks  with  interlacing  branches  are  often  festooned  to 
their  tops  with  masses  of  wild  grape  vines.  Beneath  the  trees  occurs 
a  tangled  growth  of  wild  rose  bushes,  weeds,  brush,  and  grapevines, 
while  masses  of  driftwood  render  the  areas  almost  impenetrable. 

The  type  is  uncultivated  and  will  remain  so  until  the  river  is 
effectually  controlled.  It  is  overflowed  and  eroded  even  by  floods 
of  low  stage.  Protected,  the  type  could  be  cleared,  leveled,  brought 
under  irrigation,  and  devoted  to  a  variety  of  crops.  The  expendi- 
tures and  broad  general  development  of  the  whole  river  course  which 
must  precede  the  farming  of  this  type  places  it  in  the  list  of  non- 
agricultural  soils  for  many  years. 

The  following  table  gives  the  results  of  a  mechanical  analysis  of 
the  soil  of  this  type: 


Mechanical  analysis  of  Sacramento  fine  sand. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

24165  

Soil 

Per  cent. 
0.0 

Per  cent. 
0.3 

Percent. 
2.2 

Per  cent. 
75.6 

Per  cent. 
15.3 

Per  cent. 
3.1 

Per  cent. 
3  0 

SACRAMENTO   FINE    SANDY   LOAM. 


The  Sacramento  fine  sandy  loam  of  the  Eed  Bluff  area  typically 
consists  of  6  feet  or  more  of  rather  smooth-textured,  slightly  mica- 
ceous fine  sandy  loam,  usually  light  brown  in  color.  In  those  excep- 
tional cases  where  the  fine  sandy  loam  material  is  less  than  6  feet 
deep,  the  subsoil  consists  of  gravel  beds,  fine  sand,  or  a  very  silty 
fine  sandy  loam,  approaching  the  lighter  phases  of  the  Sacramento 
silt  loam.  In  any  case  the  typical  surface  soil  is  rarely  less  than  48 
inches  in  depth  and  of  rather  uniform  structure  throughout.  Neg- 
ligible quantities  of  w^aterworn  gravel  occur  in  certain  small  areas  in- 
fluenced by  swift  water  action.  At  all  times  the  type  is  very  friable, 
requiring  minimum  attention  to  cultivation  to  secure  good  tilth. 


54  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF    THE   BUREAU    OF   SOILS,   1910. 

This  soil  occupies  elongated  bodies  bordering  the  Sacramento 
River,  having  a  place  upon  one  or  both  banks  of  the  stream  through- 
out practically  its  Avhole  course  in  the  area.  Its  contact  with  the 
river  is  close,  there  rarely  being  intervening  types  other  than  River- 
wash  or  small  bodies  of  Sacramento  fine  sand.  It  is  sometimes 
marked  by  strips  of  Riverwash  representing  portions  vigorously 
reworked  and  redeposited  by  flood  waters.  The  type  is  confined  to  the 
area  directly  influenced  by  the  Sacramento  River. 

The  surface  is  rather  uniform,  except  for  the  overflow  channels. 
In  general  the  topography  is  comparable  to  that  of  the  Sacramento 
silt  loam,  but  the  areas  usually  occur  at  an  elevation  slightly  lower 
than  that  of  the  latter  type.  Much  of  the  type  is  subject  to  periodic 
overflow. 

The  Sacramento  fine  sandy  loam  is  an  alluvial  soil,  the  product  of 
direct  deposition  by  the  Sacramento  River  and,  Avith  the  possible  ex- 
ceptions of  the  Sacramento  fine  sand  and  Riverwash,  the  most 
recently  formed  soil  of  the  area.  It  is  yet  in  the  process  of  forma- 
tion and  alteration.  The  source  of  its  material  lies  far  Avithout  the 
area  along  the  Sacramento  tributaries. 

A  native  timber  growth  originally  covered  this  type,  oak,  Avillow, 
sycamore,  and  cottonwood  prevailing.  Large  areas  have  been  cleared 
in  the  course  of  development  of  agriculture,  but  there  yet  remains 
upon  the  lower  areas  a  rank  jungle,  consisting  of  the  trees  already 
named,  underbrush,  and  grapevines. 

This  soil  is  one  of  the  best  and  most  productive  of  the  area  and  its 
intensive  development  in  small  farms  will  depend  entirely  upon  the 
engineering  difficulties  attending  })r()tection  from  overflow  and  the 
supplying  of  water  for  irrigation.  The  range  of  crops  to  which  the 
type  is  adapted  is  very  great.  Some  of  the  best  j)eacli,  apricot,  and 
prune  orchards  of  the  area  are  located  upon  it,  these  products  being 
grown  usually  without  irrigation.  The  soil  has  good  water-holding 
capacity,  but  where  irrigation  is  possible  it  is  deemed  advisable.  It 
is  an  excellent  alfalfa  soil  and  good  returns  are  had  without  irrigation 
in  well-estal)lislu'd  fields. 

Maxiimim  yields  are  obtained  where  irrigation  is  jDracticed,  as  it  is 
by  several  individual  puni]iing  j^lants  ahmg  the  Sacramento  River. 
Hops  do  well  without  irrigation  whenever  favorably  located  upon 
bodies  not  too  vigorously  overflowed,  yet  having  the  moisture  condi- 
tions of  the  lower  levels.  Grain  farming  is  as  yet  the  most  extensive 
industry  upon  this  type,  and  wheat  and  barley  continue  to  produce 
profitably  year  after  year  without  marked  decreases  in  the  yields. 
The  humus  content  of  the  soil  is  very  satisfactory,  and  much  greater 
thgn  in  case  of  any  of  the  upland  soils.  Beans,  melons,  and  various 
truck  crops  do  well  whenever  moisture  conditions  are  favorable. 
Irrigation  will  not  fail  to  make  intensive,  diversified  agriculture  sue- 


SOIL   SUEVEY   OF   THE   RED   BLUFF   AREA,   CALIFORNIA. 


55 


cessful  upon  all  the  more  elevated  parts.  It  will  be  very  difficult  to 
relieve  flood  conditions  on  islands  and  areas  in  the  river  bends.  At 
present  clearing  areas  of  this  sort  is  not  advisable,  as  erosion  would 
damage  the  surface  beyond  repair. 

The  following  table  gives  the  results  of  a  mechanical  analysis  of 
the  soil  of  this  type : 


Mechanical  analysis  of  Sacramento  fine  samly  loam. 


Number. 

I>espription. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

\'ery  fine 
sand . 

Silt. 

Clay 

24167 

Soil 

Per  cent. 
0.0 

Per  cent. 
0.5 

Per  cent. 
4.1 

Per  cent. 
35.4 

Per  cent. 
28.0 

Per  cent. 
17.9 

Per  cent. 
13.5 

SACRAMENTO   SILT    LOAM. 


The  Sacramento  silt  loam  consists  of  a  brownish-gray  silt  loam 
of  smooth  texture,  and  slightly  compact  structure.  It  is  usually 
micaceous.  Typically  it  extends  to  a  depth  of  6  feet,  bands  of  lighter 
material  only  occasionally  intervening.  The  surface  is  often  marked 
by  patches  of  sand  distributed  along  overflow  channels  or  across 
relatively  low  bodies  swept  by  flood  waters.  The  type  below  30  to 
36  inches  often  assumes  a  texture  closely  approaching  a  fine  sandy 
loam  in  appearance,  but  still  carrying  large  quantities  of  silt.  The 
soil  is  retentive  of  moisture.  It  is  modified  .slightly  in  certain  sec- 
tions by  the  addition  of  material  from  other  soils,  but  in  general 
the  texture  and  structure  are  uniform.  Below  6  feet  are  found 
materials  of  varying  character  but  similar  origin,  and  at  some  depth 
it  is  underlain  by  the  coarse  alluvium  laid  down  by  swift  water. 

The  type  occurs  as  extensive  elongated  bodies  bordering  the  Sac- 
ramento River  and  forms  a  large  part  of  the  low-lying  bottom  lands. 
The  areas  often  lie  next  the  river,  there  being  a  sharp  drop  of  from 
20  to  30  feet  to  the  water.  In  other  places  strips  of  Riverwash  or 
other  types  of  the  Sacramento  series  intervene,  but  never  types  of 
other  series. 

A  terrace  usually  bounds  the  type  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  Sacra- 
mento bottoms.  A  very  definite  boundary  occurs  in  these  cases,  except 
where  the  terrace  gives  way  to  permit  the  entrance  of  lateral  drain- 
age and  alluvial  strips  of  foreign  origin,  which  finally  lose  their 
identity  in  the  great  mass  of  Sacramento  material.  There  are  no 
great  differences  in  elevation  within  the  bodies  of  this  type,  but  the 
surface  is  usually  marked  by  overflow  sloughs  or  abandoned  channels 
paralleling  the  river  in  a  general  way.  Over  the  greater  part  of  the 
type  these  depressions  with  sloping  banks  carry  water  during  floods, 
often  in  sufficient  volume  to  cover  the  flatter  portions  as  a  sheet  or 
submerge  all  but  the  highest  parts.     It  is  only  in  the  slightly  lower 


56  FIELD  OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU   OF   SOILS,   1910. 

sections  at  the  great  bends  thai  the  river  sweeps  across  the  areas  of 
this  soil  ^Yith  a  force  sufficient  to  damage  the  surface  by  erosion. 
The  internal  drainage  of  the  soil  is  free,  and  when  protected  from 
floods  and  irrigated  moisture  conditions  should  be  satisfactory. 

At  the  time  when  the  first  w^hite  settlers  occupied  this  section  of 
(he  valley  the  areas  of  this  type  were  rather  heavily  wooded.  The 
valley  oak,  with  a  vigorous  undergrowth,  i)red()niinated  in  the  better 
drained  parts  slightly  removed  from  the  river.  The  areas  subject 
to  continued  flooding  supported  a  tangled  growth  approaching  the 
tropical  jungle  in  density.  Portions  of  the  type  now  cleared  for 
agricultural  use  are  still  dotted  with  individual  valley  oaks  of  great 
size  and  nmrked  by  strips  of  brush  and  woods  along  the  principal 
overflow  channels  or  lateral  stream  ways  meandering  toward  the 
Sacramento.  There  are  large  sections,  however,  wdiich  retain  the 
tangled  growth  of  vegetation — chiefly  oak,  cottonwood,  sj^camore, 
willow,  and  wild  grape.  These  are  the  parts  never  cleared,  because 
of  flood  conditions,  or  perhaps  abandoned  even  after  clearing,  on 
account  of  changes  in  the  overfloAV  channels.  The  uncleared  area 
still  forms  a  considerable  percentage  of  the  total  area  of  the  type. 
From  present  indications  the  cleared  area  Avill  not  soon  be  extended. 
Without  the  existing  vegetation  much  erosion  would  result,  and  it 
is  better  to  allow  the  land  to  remain  as  it  is  until  the  river  is  brought 
under  control. 

The  type  owes  its  origin  entirely  to  the  activities  of  the  Sacra- 
mento Iviver,  being  the  liner  alluvium  deposited  in  very  quiet  water 
by  the  floods  in  that  stream.  The  material  of  which  it  is  composed 
has  been  gathered  from  the  varied  rocks  of  the  ui)per  Sacramento 
watershed.  The  thorough  intermingling  of  particles  during  trans- 
l)ortation  gives  the  type  its  uniformity  in  this  and  (he  other  areas  of 
the  Sacramento  Valle3\ 

The  agricultural  development  of  this  type  occupied  the  attention 
of  the  pioneer  farmers  of  the  area.  It  w^as  slowly  cleared  at  consid- 
erable expense  and  became  one  of  the  important  grain  soils,  yielding 
heavy  crops  of  wheat  and  barley.  Such  uncultivated  portions  as  re- 
luiiiu  conduuc  (o  be  used  as  pasture  land  or  are  the  source  of  firewood 
and  fence  ])0;its.  The  greater  part  of  the  type  is  still  used  for  dry- 
farmed  grain  and  without  such  nuu'kt'd  decreases  in  yields  as  accom- 
panied the  contimied  cropi)ing  of  (he  upland  soils.  It  is  one  of  the 
best  iri'ain  soils  of  the  area  and  ])ro(i(able  yields  of  these  crops  can  be 
('Xi)ec(ed  for  many  years,  aUhough  the  na(ural  adaptation  of  the  type 
indicates  i(s  use  for  other  crops  when  it  is  protected  from  floods. 
During  r('ceii(  years  it  has  been  found  j^rofitable  to  grow  alfalfa  upon 
this  type  withou(  irrigation,  three  (^^(ings  being  usually  secured,  the 
yield  aggregating  about  5  tons  to  the  acre.  Near  Alfalfa  the  broad 
area  of  (his  (ype  is  largely  devoted  to  dry-farmed  alfalfa,  but  the 


SOIL   SURVEY    OF    THE    EED    BLUFF    AREA,    CALIFORNIA. 


57 


fields  would  last  longer  and  the  yields  would  be  increased  by 
irrigation. 

The  type  is  excellently  adapted  to  a  great  variety  of  fruit  and 
truck  crops  and  supports  some  profitable  orchards  of  peaches,  prunes, 
apricots,  and  almonds,  in  the  main  without  irrigation.  Some  of  the 
oldest  and  best-yielding  orchards  of  these  stone  fruits  are  found  upon 
this  type.  It  is  well  suited  to  sugar  beets,  and  much  attention  may 
be  devoted  to  this  crop  at  a  future  date  when  conditions  for  irriga- 
tion and  marketing  the  product  become  more  favorable.  Hop  cul- 
ture will  also  prove  successful  either  by  selecting  the  less  elevated 
and  moister  portions  of  the  type  or  by  supplying  irrigation  water. 
The  vineyards  of  wine  grapes  owned  by  the  Stanford  Ranch  at  Vina 
cover  a  portion  of  this  type.  ^_, 

A  wide  diversity  of  crops,  embracing  practically  all  the  indus- 
tries of  northern  California,  with  the  exception  of  the  citrus  fruits, 
can  be  successfully  established  upon  this  type,  but  that  intensive 
development  of  which  the  type  is  worthy  must  be  delayed  until  it 
is  relieved  of  flooding  during  the  winter  and  spring  months.  Irri- 
gation will  be  necessary  to  warrant  its  use  in  small  tracts.  It  is  a 
very  productive  soil,  and  under  the  best  conditions  it  should  sup- 
port a  family  on  20  acres  or  less.  Its  natural  value  will  warrant 
the  expense  incurred  in  developing  water.  All  of  its  surface  is 
capable  of  irrigation  when  protected  from  overflow. 

The  following  table  gives  the  results  of  a  mechanical  analysis  of 
the  soil  of  this  type : 

Mechanical  analysis  of  Sacramento  silt  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

Very  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay. 

241C0 

Soil 

Per  cent.    Per  cent. 
0. 0            n.  2 

Per  cent. 
0.9 

Per  cent. 
9.2 

Per  cent. 
14.5 

Per  cent. 
58.6 

Per  cent. 
16.5 

SACRAMENTO    SILTY    CLAY    LOAM. 


The  soil  of  the  Sacramento  silty  clay  loam  consists  of  a  very  smooth- 
textured,  dark-clrab  to  brown  silty  clay  loam  of  compact  structure. 
It  is  somewhat  stickj?^,  though  it  seldom  puddles,  and  has  a  rather 
friable  structure  for  a  soil  of  its  character.  This  soil  is  normally 
free  from  all  coarse  material  and  usually  extends  to  a  depth  of  6  feet. 
In  exceptional  cases  it  is  underlain  below  about  30  inches  by  a  slightly 
lighter  colored  and  coarser  textured  loam  or  silt  loam.  It  is  subject 
to  little  variation,  except  along  its  contact  with  other  types. 

The  type  occupies  several  bodies  of  small  extent  occurring  in  the 
flood  plains  of  the  Sacramento  River.  Its  surface  is  level  and 
marked  by  the  shallow  depressions  of  abandoned  or  present  ovei*flow 


58 


FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE    BUREAU   OF   SOILS,    1910. 


waterways  characteristic  of  tlie  series.  It  is  usually  well  drained, 
but  subject  to  overflow.  The  areas  were  originally  rather  heavily 
wooded,  but  are  now  for  the  most  part  cleared.  iScattered  oaks  occur 
through  the  fields,  and  cottonwood,  willow,  and  grapevines  form 
strips  of  woodland  along  the  drainage  ways. 

The  Sacramento  silty  clay  loam  is  wholly  alluvial  and  owes  its 
origin  to  the  sediments  deposited  by  the  Sacramento  River  under 
conditions  favoring  the  .segregation  of  its  finest  particles. 

For  many  years  it  has  been  devoted  to  grain  farming,  and  still 
yields  profitable  returns.  Small  areas  of  dry-farmed  alfalfa  also 
occur. 

The  soil  is  admirabl}'  adapted  to  sugar  beets  and  its  entire  extent 
could  be  devoted  to  this  crop  with  irrigation.  Alfalfa,  truck,  hops, 
and  various  fruits  are  likewise  suitable  crops  for  production  with 
irrigation. 

The  following  table  gives  the  average  results  of  mechanical  analj^ses 
of  the  soil  and  subsoil  of  this  type : 

Mechanical  analyses  of  Sacramento  silti/  clay  loam. 


Number. 

Description. 

Fine 
gravel. 

Coarse 
sand. 

Medium 
sand. 

Fine 
sand. 

A'ery  fine 
sand. 

Silt. 

Clay 

24101,24103 

24102,24164 

Soil 

Subsoil 

Per  cent. 

0.0 

.1 

Percent. 
0.5 

.8 

Per  cent. 
0.8 
1.5 

Per  cent. 
8.1 
11.1 

Per  rent. 
13.8 
10.1 

Per  cent. 
50.9 
53.1 

Per  cent. 
25.6 
10.8 

RIVKRWASH. 


Riverwa.sh  is  a  nonagricultiiral  type  of  very  coarse  texture,  largely 
composed  of  waterworn  gravel,  with  coarse  sand  and  some  finer  sedi- 
ments in  varying  quantities.     It  is  leachy  and  incoherent  in  structure. 

Riverwash  occupies  low-lying  flood-swept  areas,  strips  or  islands 
along  the  Sacramento  River,  and  similar  small  areas  in  the  beds  of 
lateral  streams.  The  principal  body  found  outside  the  flood  plain 
of  the  Sacramento  lies  in  the  gravelly  bed  of  Thomas  Creek. 

Riverwa.sh  usually  has  an  uneven  surface  and  is  subject  to  erosion 
or  reworking  at  frequent  intervals.  The  water  table  lies  near  the 
surface,  and  upon  areas  not  recently  disturbed  cottonwood  and  willow 
make  rapid  growth.  As  a  usual  thing  the  tj^pe  presents  a  very 
barren  appearance. 

This  type  is  of  course  entirely  alluvial  in  origin,  most  of  its  mate- 
rial being  rolled  into  position  during  floods.  Similar  materials  un- 
derlie some  of  the  heavier  alluvial  types. 


ROUGH    STONY   LAND. 


As  the  lower  slopes  of  the  Lassen  Peak  Range  approach  the  area 
from  the  easi  (lu-y  give  way  to  an  elevated  dissected  plain  of  vol- 


SOIL   SURVEY   OF   THE   EED   BLUFF   AREA,   CALIFORNIA.  59 

canic  origin,  a  part  of  which  covers  a  considerable  area  in  the  north- 
eastern part  of  the  Tehama  Qiiadrangie.  This  plain  in  turn  breaks 
uniformly  by  steep  descents  into  the  Tuscan  series,  and  a  strip  about 
one-half  mile  in  width  was  included  in  the  survey  which  constitutes 
the  Rough  stony  land  of  the  Red  Bluff  area.  Eastward  from  that 
arbitrary  boundary  line,  running  northwest  and  southeast,  this  typQ 
extends  indefinitely  as  the  variable,  broken  nonagricultural  section  of 
the  high  plains  and  foothills. 

Rough  stonj^  land  has  a  surface  too  precipitous  and  roclry^  for  agri- 
culture. Its  surface  is  strewn  with  great  quantities  of  volcanic 
bowlders,  marked  by  rock  outcrop  and  cut  by  the  small  canyons  of 
drainage  ways  (see  PI.  II,  fig.  2).  The  fine-earth  material  consists 
of  a  reddish  loam  somewhat  like  the  soil  of  the  Tuscan  series,  and 
the  boundary  between  Rough  stony  land  and  the  Tuscan  soils  was 
established  along  the  line  at  which  the  rougher  slopes  gave  way  to 
conditions  favoring  agriculture,  so  far  as  topography  is  concerned. 

A  scant  growth  of  upland  oak,  chaparral,  and  native  grasses  cover 
the  areas  of  Rough  stony  land.  Grazing  is  the  only  purpose  for 
which  it  can  be  used. 

SUMMARY. 

The  Red  Bluff  area  covers  about  326  square  miles  of  the  northern 
extremity  of  the  main  Sacramento  Valley.  It  consists  of  slightly 
elevated  treeless  plains  cut  by  small  alluvial  valleys  and  by  the  Sacra- 
mento bottoms.  The  upland  plains  are  sparsely  settled  and  little 
farmed. 

Transportation  is  furnished  by  two  lines  of  the  Southern  Pacific 
Railroad  and  by  river  steamers.  Markets  are  found  for  the  green 
fruits  and  vegetables  in  the  contiguous  territory  of  northern  Cali- 
fornia and  Oregon.     The  staples  enter  the  world  markets. 

Red  Bluff'  is  the  principal  town,  with  a  population  of  3,530.  Corn- 
ing, Tehama,  and  Vina  are  other  places  of  importance. 

The  climate  differs  little  from  that  of  the  remainder  of  the  great 
Interior  Valley.  Red  Bluff  has  an  annual  rainfall  of  26.33  inches. 
The  summers  are  hot  and  rainless,  but  not  oppressive.  Long  grow- 
ing seasons  occur,  with  little  damage  from  frost.  Prevailing  winds 
are  from  the  north.  The  general  climate  is  favorable  to  the  pro- 
duction of  a  great  variety  of  fruits. 

Agi-iculture  was  begun  in  1852  and  the  area  developed  into  an  im- 
portant grain-producing  section.  Decreased  yields  and  lower  prices 
caused  a  shrinkage  in  the  area  so  used.  The  dry-farmed  fruit  in- 
dustry has  been  developed  until  it  occupies  much  attention.  Peaches 
are  the  leading  fruit.  Land  holdings  are  usually  extensive,  and 
some  ranches  of  several  thousand  acres  occur.  Some  failures  have 
followed  injudicious  colonization. 


60  FIELD   OPERATIONS   OF   THE   BUREAU    OF   SOILS,    1910. 

The  soils  of  the  Ked  Bhiff  area  are  separated  into  28  types,  2  of 
Avhich  are  iionagricuhural.  The  26  agricultural  types  are  classified 
into  9  series. 

The  Redding  series,  consisting  of  two  types,  covers  extensive  areas. 
The  soils  are  rather  poorly  adapted  to  dry  farming.  The  Redding 
loam  is  the  most  extensive  t^'pe.  These  soils  are  confined  to  the  area 
west  of  the  Sacramento  River. 

The  Corning  series,  also  of  the  west-side  section,  includes  two  types. 
The  series  is  poorly  adapted  to  dry  farming. 

The  Tehama  series,  including  three  types,  is  found  west  of  the  river. 
These  soils  are  dry  farmed  to  grain  to  a  limited  extent.  They  possess 
gi'eat  possibilities  for  development  under  irrigation. 

Tlie  Kirkwood  series  is  represented  by  a  single  type,  the  silty  clay 
adobe.  It  gives  moderate  yields  of  grain  under  the  dry-farming 
system.  AVith  water  it  will  be  found  a  useful  soil  for  a  variety  of 
crops. 

The  ISIaywood  series,  comprising  five  types,  is  better  adapted  to  dry 
farming  than  the  series  previously  mentioned.  They  will  be  very 
valuable  soils  whenever  irrigation  is  supplied. 

The  Elder  series  comprises  three  types.  These  are  alluvial  soils  and 
are  among  the  most  fertile  in  the  area. 

The  Tuscan  soils  are  practically  nonagricultural.  Two  types  oc- 
cur, occupying  great  areas  on  the  east  side  of  the  valley.  The  soils 
are  very  shallow  and  underlain  by  impenetrable  beds  of  cemented 
gravel  and  volcanic  tuff. 

The  Vina  series,  consisting  of  four  types,  lies  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Sacramento.  Its  soils  are  brownish  in  color  and  for  the  most  part 
rather  friable.  The  soils  are  alluvial  and  prevailingly  deep.  Some 
of  the  t3q:)es  are  among  the  best  soils  of  the  area. 

The  Sacramento  series,  with  four  tj^pes,  occupies  the  alluvial  bot- 
toms of  the  Sacramento  River.  The  soils  are  deep  and  friable  and 
of  high  ngricultural  value. 

Irrigation  is  practiced  in  several  localities  in  the  area,  principally 
on  the  east  side  of  the  river.  The  perennial  streams  there  yield  a 
veiy  valuable  flow  of  water.  Some  pumping  is  done  along  the  stream 
ways  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Corning.  The  Sacramento  bottoms  are 
subject  to  periodic  floods,  which  can  only  be  remedied  by  extensive 
Avoi'ks  of  storage  and  conti'ol.  Other  soils  of  the  area  are  remarkably 
well  drained. 

No  alkali  is  found. 

In-igation  development  must  precede  intensive  farming.  This  can 
])ii  fully  achieved  only  by  works  of  a  comprehensive  scope. 

o 


'i:  ii'^  =• 


mi-  qk  ijj    EDir  ml^  Hi  CD§  E3i  mi 


[Public  Resolution^ — No.-  9.] 

JOINT  RESOLUTION  Amending  public  resolution  numbered  eight,  Fifty-sixth  Congress, 
second  session,  approved  February  twenty-third,  nineteen  hundred  and  one,  "  providing 
for  the  printing  annually  of  the  report  on  field  operations  of  the  Division  of  Soils,  De- 
partment of  Agriculture." 

Resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States  of 
America  in  Congress  assembled,  That  public  resolution  numbered  eight,  Fifty- 
sixth  Congress,  second  session,  approved  February  twenty-third,  nineteen  hun- 
dred and  one,  be  amended  by  striking  out  all  after  the  resolving  clause  and  in- 
serting in  lieu  thereof  the  following: 

That  th^re  shall  be  printed  ten  thousand  five  hundred  copies  of  the  report  on 
field  operations  of  the  Division  of  Soils,  Department  of  Agriculture,  of  which 
one  thousand  five  hundred  copies  shall  be  for  the  use  of  the  Senate,  three 
thousand  cojiies  for  the  use  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  six  thousand 
copies  for  the  use  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture:  Provided,  That  in  addition 
to  the  number  of  copies  above  provided  for  there  shall  be  printed,  as  soon  as 
the  manuscript  can  be  prepared,  with  the  necessary  maps  and  illustrations  to 
accompany  it,  a  report  on  each  area  surveyed,  in  the  form  of  advance  sheets, 
bound  in  paper  covers,  of  which  five  hundred  copies  shall  be  for  the  use  of  each 
Senator  from  the  State,  two  thousand  copies  for  the  use  of  each  Representative 
for  the  congressional  district  or  districts  in  which  the  survey  is  made,  and  one 
thousand  copies  for  the  use  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 

Approved,  March  14,  1904. 

[On  July  1,  1901,  the  Division  of  Soils  was  reorganized  as  the  Bureau  of  Soils.] 


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